Nursing research into modern day surgery: a literature review

Mitchell, MJ

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this review was to examine the present scope and direction of nursing research into day surgery in order to gain insight into possible future surgical nursing intervention in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.
Background: Elective surgical healthcare is changing rapidly. This process has witnessed modern surgical nursing being progressively replaced by devolved medical practices with little or no implementation of interventions based solely upon nursing evidence. Without nursing research into ambulatory surgery and the subsequent knowledge it can provide, such a bias towards the adoption of devolved medical practices will inevitably continue. A review of research activity undertaken by the Nursing profession regarding day surgery was therefore required to aid the promotion and development of nursing based evidence in modern, elective surgery.
Method: Relevant literature was gained from topical bibliographical databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, British Nursing Index and Archive, Applied Social Science Index, Cochrane Library and PsychInfo) and cross-referencing.
Findings: Forty research papers were examined from which two main themes emerged based upon the broad area of study and recommendations for clinical practice - physical experiences (pain and post-operative nausea and vomiting) and psycho-educational experiences (satisfaction, information provision, anxiety and recovery).
Conclusions:
Based upon the nursing literature focusing specifically upon patient experiences of day surgery the direction in which modern, surgical nursing should progress may be centrally located with issues concerning the physical and psycho-educational experiences of modern surgery/ anaesthesia. Future nursing studies into modern day surgery should therefore strongly consider the relevant transitory physical care and continuing psycho-educational care. Transitory physical care as such aspects are commonly very brief and succinct whereas psycho-educational care more continuous and ideally spanning several days. However, the implementation and evaluation of such recommendations remains vital.

Citation

Mitchell, M. Nursing research into modern day surgery: a literature review. Ambulatory Surgery, 13(4), 95-105

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Deposit Date: Jan 16, 2009
• Journal: Ambulatory Surgery Journal
• Print ISSN: 0966-6532
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 95-105
• Keywords: Day surgery, ambulatory surgery, patient satisfaction, patient anxiety, patient information, patient assessment, nursing intervention, nursing care
• Publisher URL: http://www.ambulatorysurgery.org/vol13-4.pdf
• Related Public URLs: http://www.elsevier.com/; http://www.ambulatorysurgery.org