Enhancing Oncology Side Effect Management Using a Remote Monitoring System.

IV oncology treatments are associated with severe side effects (SEs) that can decrease patients' quality of life and lead to increased hospitalizations. However, improved reporting with remote monitoring systems (RMSs) may.

Patients' Perceptions of Importance for Self-Administered Correct Site Surgery Checklist: A Multisite Study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe and validate the association between patient's self-administered correct site checklist and perceptions of importance for safe surgery. DESIGN: A multisite nonexperimental, quantitative, descriptive study. METHODS: A convenience sample of 173 adult patients from four different geographical multisite hospitals was included in the study. Inclusion criteria were age 18 to 75 years old, scheduled for surgery/procedure with laterality and ability to follow instructions. After IRB approval, investigators explained the purpose of the study, process and obtained consent from willing participants. Participants with clinical or behavioral limitations were excluded from the study. Participants completed a 24 item survey before and during surgery using a four-point Likert scale from one (not important) to four (extremely important). Descriptive data was analyzed using means, standard deviations, and percentage. All data was summarized and analyzed with STATA 12. FINDINGS: Most of the participants perceived the importance of the survey checklist items positively implying that the active engagement is an important role for safe surgery. However, a few participants reported some of the items as not important/somewhat important: "It is on my left or right side" (6.9%); "surgery on my: (state your limb) and (right or left site) (1.9-3%); "check electronic access or copy of imaging with correct name and site" (14.9%); "state your name and birthday" (4%), "check correct ID bracelet information" (2.9%) and "believe in having an active role in preventing error" (2.3%). Some participants responded, "My surgeon knows it or surgery has been scheduled".  Findings indicated that even though the importance of correct site surgery is critical for patient's surgery, a few patients reported it as noncritical and relied on healthcare team for their safety. CONCLUSIONS: This study validated the importance of the patients' perceived roles in promoting safe, correct site surgery and by engaging patients in mitigating correct site surgical errors. Therefore, inclusion of patients as an integral part of the healthcare team is necessary through education and encouragement to speak out.

Student Perioperative Experience Supports Recognition of Safety Concepts.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate student perception of knowledge gained and intent to apply perioperative safety concepts. DESIGN: A mixed-method design analyzed themes from student reflections as well as frequencies of student survey responses after a one day, 10-hour, perioperative observational experience. METHODS: Students participated in a one day, 10-hour, observational clinical experience following patients from the preoperative area to the operating room, postanesthesia care unit, and discharge from a surgery center or admission to a hospital room. After the experience, students completed a survey and a reflection assignment. A modified Delphi method was used for thematic analysis. Frequencies and averages were used to analyze the survey items. FINDINGS: Students gained knowledge of and reported intent to apply perioperative safety concepts within their nursing practice. Some students noted an interest in perioperative nursing as a career choice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence to support implementation of perioperative experiences in nursing programs and reinforce the role of the registered nurse (RN) to ensure safe and quality care. In addition, the perioperative experience may be a recruitment tool for enhancing the perioperative workforce.

The Effect of a Perioperative Clinical Immersion on Senior Nursing Students' Perception of Readiness to Practice: A Quality Improvement Project.

Health care organizations have tasked nursing education leaders with increasing enrollment and graduating nursing students ready to practice. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate the effect of a perioperative clinical immersion on the perceptions of readiness for practice held by senior students working toward a bachelor of science in nursing. Seven senior nursing students participated in the perioperative clinical immersion at one midwestern university. At the end of the immersion, the students participated in an interview that was designed to capture their perceptions of the program. We performed data analysis and identified recurring key words that were evaluated further as attributes of critical thinking, skill competency, and role socialization. The data analysis revealed the students' perceptions of growth and readiness for practice. We found that a perioperative clinical immersion provides senior nursing students with an opportunity for professional growth and possible employment in the perioperative area.

A Comparison of Aromatherapy to Standard Care for Relief of PONV and PDNV in Ambulatory Surgical Patients.

PURPOSE: To determine effectiveness of aromatherapy (AT) compared with standard care (SC) for postoperative and postdischarge nausea and vomiting (PONV/PDNV) in ambulatory surgical patients. DESIGN: Prospective randomized study. METHODS: Patients (n = 254) received either SC or AT for PONV and interviewed for effectiveness of PDNV. Machine learning methods (eight algorithms) were used to evaluate. FINDING: Of patients (64 of 221) that experienced PONV, 52% were in the AT group and 48% in the SC group. The majority were satisfied with treatment (timely, P = .60; effectiveness, P = .86). Of patients that experienced PDNV, treatment was 100% effective in the AT group and 67% in the SC group. The cforest algorithm was used to develop a model for predicting PONV with literature-based risk factors (0.69 area under the curve). CONCLUSIONS: AT is an effective way to manage PONV/PDNV. Gender and age were the most important predictors of PONV.