Preoperative nursing visit: continuous quality improvement project
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0229.44052Keywords:
perioperative nursing; patient safety; continuous quality improvement; evidence-based clinical practiceAbstract
Introduction: The quality of care and patient safety are fundamental pillars of nursing practice. The Preoperative Nursing Visit (PNV) is the first step in the perioperative process, enabling the anticipation of needs, reduction of anxiety, and planning of personalised care. This Continuous Quality Improvement Project (CQIP) aims to implement the PNV in the Operating Room (OR) of a hospital in the central region of Portugal.
Objective: To implement the PNV as a standardised practice in the Operating Room (OR) of a hospital in the central region of Portugal, valuing the specialised intervention of the nurse specialist.
Methods: The project has a prospective, descriptive, and participatory design, based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle adapted to nursing practice, integrating eight sequential stages involving observation, planning, intervention, and evaluation. A questionnaire was developed and applied to OR nurses during the diagnostic phase.
Results: The results refer exclusively to the diagnostic phase of the CQIP. Nurses perceived that the implementation of the PNV may contribute to reducing perioperative patients’ stress and anxiety, clarifying doubts, improving adherence to preoperative instructions, and potentially enhancing patient safety. They also considered that the PNV may promote more effective coordination between the inpatient unit and the OR.
Conclusion: The PNV is a structuring intervention in the surgical process, with potential to support organisational improvements and enhance perioperative safety. The findings from this diagnostic phase provide a relevant foundation for planning and implementing the PNV, promoting a patient-centred approach.
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