Perioperative nursing is constantly evolving and our skills and knowledge base are now being challenged to adapt to new settings and provide safe patient care through innovative techniques and methods. Mini-mally invasive surgery is one way of providing cuttingedge patient care. As a result of reader' requests, our first three issues in 2008 will feature a series of continuing education articles on minimally invasive surgical techniques and procedures. This month, we describe the latest in minimally invasive cardiac procedures.
The value of minimally invasive surgery
Coupling new technology with innovative techniques, previously "open" procedures can now be performed with less invasive techniques, allowing more patients to opt for a quicker recovery time and smaller expense. The types of surgical procedures performed using minimally invasive techniques include orthopedic, urological, gynecologic, and even some types of cardiac surgery.
Though this month's feature presents a hospital-based minimally invasive procedure, new technology now allows many of these surgeries to be performed in the ambulatory surgery setting.
The number of ambulatory care centers registered with Medicare total more than 4,000, with the number of procedures performed yearly approaching 16,000,000 in free-standing ambulatory surgery centers.1 In the United States, over 60% of elective surgery procedures are performed in outpatient surgery centers.2 Healthcare experts also predict that this will increase to nearly 75% in the next 10 years.2
Withstanding challenges
Patients also may have comorbidity issues, challenging the perioperative nurse to provide safe care in environments with less available resources and in a shorter time frame. Perioperative nurses in these ambulatory settings are more likely to provide preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care for their patients, which means they must be adept in all phases of perioperative nursing.
Perioperative nurses often care for a diverse patient population in terms of specific surgical procedures. Intraoperative techniques and equipment are designed for less invasive and traumatic procedures, and require us to constantly update our skills. Patient education also becomes more challenging when patients are discharged within a few hours of their procedure.
In an aging workforce, many perioperative nurses are being drawn to the attractive aspects of the ambulatory setting such as fewer weekends, holidays, or extended work hours. As minimally invasive surgery expands to the ambulatory surgery setting, more nurses will be exploring this growing specialty as an alternative to hospital-based surgery.
Looking to the future
The journal has now finished its first year providing you with educational and evidence-based practice articles. Our goal this year at OR Nurse 2008 is to continue to provide you with the information needed to enhance your practice in diverse care settings. The new year is a time to reflect on past accomplishments and to set new goals for the year ahead. We are pleased with the successful launch of our journal and would like to thank you for your support and positive feedback. We are happy to provide this service for you and look forward to the new year and the opportunities it will bring.
Elizabeth M. Thompson, RN, CNOR, MSN
Editor-in-Chief
Nursing Education Specialist Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. [email protected]
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