Recently, as part of a team-building exercise, I participated in a drum circle. A drum circle is comprised of a group of people standing in a circle playing drums and other percussion instruments. Many major corporations have used drum circles to boost creativity and encourage synergy and cooperation.
We were introduced to the drum circle by a local artist who became involved in drumming several years ago. We were all given a handcrafted drum and told to just start playing. I had mixed feelings about participating in such an unconventional event, but gamely joined in. At first, as each of us drummed out our own rhythm, the result was unrelated and individual. Surprisingly and very quickly, however, the sounds of the drums fell into a distinct and rhythmic harmony.
The passion of an artist
While the experience of using drumming as a team-building exercise was interesting, what intrigued me more was the passion the leader had for his craft. Several years ago, he began cutting wood from his land and shaping it into a framework for the drum. Deer, buffalo, and elk hides are tanned and stretched over the framework of the drum, and are then either dyed or painted with a decorative figure. The artist said he is often inspired and led by the drum to a design unique to that particular instrument. In addition, an amulet is added as a spiritual aspect. The amulet might be an agate cut and polished and added to the underside of the drum by strips of tanned hide. The knowledge and technical skill needed to create his product encompasses several areas of expertise. Clearly, the craftsmanship and detail placed into each drum is delivered with a sense of reverence, a level of commitment, and dedication.
Our own brand of art
We nurses often hear and refer to our profession as an "art and a science." The science of nursing is clearly seen in the education needed to perform our nursing duties and becomes the framework for our practice. Like the skin stretched over the framework of the drum, we are stretched in our practice to stay current in the rapid growth of technology. It's easy to become overwhelmed with all the technology needed to competently perform our work.
As each drum has its own characteristics and response, so do our patients. We are able to support and offer our patients more options to treat their individual disease process. This is reflected in the operative setting through organ donation and transplants, bridge-to-life devices for cardiac patients, robotics, minimally invasive surgery, new techniques in total joint replacements, the complexity of the electronic environment, and more.
The technology doesn't replace the human inter-action with the surgical patient. Ensuring the patient is knowledgeable about his procedure, answering last- minute questions, and reassuring the patient before and during the surgical procedure are equally important. Advocacy, problem-solving, and continuously monitoring the patient response and OR environment during the operative procedure are necessary to promote good outcomes. Only we can offer the spiritual aspect to the patient's operative experience.
Perioperative nurses are often quoted as saying, "OR nursing[horizontal ellipsis]you either hate it or you love it." The level of commitment required to keep current on technology, maintain skills, interact within a multidisciplinary team, and support acutely ill patients requires passion. Dedication to the patient encourages the perioperative nurse to provide a reassuring and safe environment. When all of these components are conducted with reverence, perioperative nursing becomes an art.
Elizabeth M. Thompson, RN, CNOR, MSN
Editor-in-Chief, Nursing Education Specialist, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
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