A national study of perioperative nurse education in two technologies.

In this study, perioperative RNs (n = 122) from hospitals throughout the United States were surveyed to explore how and what they initially learned about the different types of technology they use in direct patient care and the consequences of using these technologies. The study revealed that the most frequently identified method participants used to learn technologies (i.e., count procedure, electrosurgical unit [ESU]) was via instruction from other staff members, and RNs were more likely to learn more facts about the count procedure than about the ESU. Although the count procedure was significantly more likely to cause stress to RNs (P = .000), an inaccurate count procedure was no more likely to result in patient harm than incorrect operation of an ESU.

Accountability and responsibility underpins successful pain management.

Does having a registered nurse as a peri-anesthesia nurse make a difference to patient outcomes? Although technicians may have the technical expertise, they lack the versatility and educational preparation of a registered nurse to provide holistic care for the patient at the most crucial periods of peri-anesthesia care. This report addresses the accountability and responsibility of the peri-anesthesia nurse in pain management, highlighting the need for a knowledgeable and competent practitioner so that quality patient care is given and a positive patient outcome is achieved.

Australian operating room registered nurse education: a national study comparing two types of healthcare technology.

A random sample of operating room registered nurses (N = 258) working in hospitals throughout Australia was surveyed to compare how and what they initially learned about two types of healthcare technology--the count procedure and the electrosurgical unit (ESU)--and the consequences of their use. The most frequently identified method of initially learning to use both technologies was receiving instruction from a staff member on their unit. A comparison of what registered nurses initially learned about the technologies revealed that nurses were significantly more likely to learn more about the count procedure. The count procedure and ESU caused less than one-third of nurses to experience stress; participants were significantly less likely to have had an inaccurate count procedure result in patient harm (10.1%) than to have used an ESU that caused patient harm (17.4%).

Perioperative nursing education "down under".

Perioperative nurses in Australia are concerned with a number of significant challenges. First, they are concerned with the international trend of increased use of nonursing personnel within operating theaters. They believe that this may have detrimental effects on patient care. Second, is the issue of maintaining an adequate supply of professionally prepared perioperative nurses. Within this article, initiatives to address these challenges are discussed.

Atrial natriuretic factor inhibits central angiotensin II pressor responses.

Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of human atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), fragment 1-25, in the dose range 3 to 20 micrograms/kg did not alter resting arterial pressure or heart rate in rats anesthetized with chloralose/urethan (60:600 mg/kg i.p.), while angiotensin II (ANG II), 1 microgram/kg, produced a significant increase in arterial pressure after i.c.v. application. This pressor effect induced by ANG II was abolished by simultaneous administration of ANF (3 micrograms/kg i.c.v.). In isolated strips of rabbit aorta preconstricted with ANG II (10 nM), ANF caused a dose-dependent relaxation. In intact rats, the increase in blood pressure following intravenously administered ANG II (0.1 and 1 microgram/kg) was not altered by the highest dose of ANF (20 micrograms/kg) given intracerebroventricularly. These results suggest that atrial peptides may play an important role in the regulation of blood pressure by interacting with both the central and peripheral actions of ANG II. Inhibition of the central pressor action of angiotensin by ANF appears to be independent of any direct peripheral effect of the atrial peptides.