Postgraduate Developments Among Perianesthesia-Trained Nursing Graduates in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

PURPOSE: To elucidate the postgraduation situation of those who have completed a perianesthesia nurse (PAN) educational course offered in master's degree programs in Japan. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study used an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. METHODS: Of the 42 individuals who completed a PAN educational course offered in master's degree programs in Japan by March 2021, 41 were targeted, excluding the author of this study. The questionnaire was distributed by mail between November 20, 2021, and January 14, 2022, and the participants were asked to return the completed questionnaire by mail. Those working as PANs were asked about their work content, work satisfaction, and thoughts on their prospects in the perianesthesia nursing field. Those not working as a PAN were asked about their future intentions to do so. FINDINGS: The response rate was 95.1% (39/41). PANs are involved in various perianesthesia tasks, and there were no respondents who answered "No" to the question of whether they were glad to have become a PAN. However, of those working as PANs, only 16 (53.3%) indicated that they would like to continue working in that role. Few respondents (n = 3; 10.0%) considered future PAN prospects to be "good," while eight (26.7%) respondents answered "poor," and many (n = 19; 63.3%) stated "neither." CONCLUSIONS: Under the current situation, PANs in Japan do not necessarily have a positive outlook for the future, the causes for which must be analyzed to make the necessary improvements.

Introduction of evolving roles of Japanese perianesthesia nurses.

The aim of this special article is to introduce Perianesthesia Nurses (PANs) who play an essential role in assisting anesthesiologists to ensure the safety of patients undergoing anesthesia and to improve the quality of anesthetic care. In Japan, there is no national license for nurse anesthesia providers. Therefore, most of the tasks related to anesthesia are performed by the anesthesiologists. Due to the size and complexity of the aging population, higher quality perioperative care is needed. In search of a solution, PANs were introduced to improve anesthetic care in Japan, enabling anesthesiologists to delegate some of their tasks to PANs who work within the scope of registered nurse's policies. They are a new type of anesthesia care provider in Japan, and different from Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists in the United States. Currently, six schools provide 2-year master's degree perianesthesia nursing programs, and graduates are now providing anesthetic care both inside and outside of the operating room under the direct supervision of anesthesiologists. PANs not only assist anesthesiologists and help to reduce anesthesiologists' workload, but also contribute to the expansion of anesthesia services. They ensure patient safety and improve the quality of patient care before, during, and after the patient undergoing anesthesia.

[Cerebral cortical encephalitis with anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody].

A 27-year-old man developed acute encephalitis with headache, fever, seizures, and aphasia. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid showed elevated levels of cell counts and protein. A brain MRI demonstrated increased FLAIR signals in the left cerebral cortex with cortical swelling. An MRA also showed mild vasodilatation of the left middle cerebral artery branches. After admission, severe psychomotor excitement developed. Immunotherapy with intravenous high-dose steroid and subsequent oral steroid was successful, and the patient returned to premorbid working position. Repeated MRI study showed complete resolution. Serum anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody was positive, while anti-aquaporin-4 antibody, anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibody, and other autoimmune antibodies were all negative. There were no relapses at final follow-up of 8 months after onset. Cerebral cortical encephalitis with unknown etiology can occur associated with anti-MOG antibody, and anti-MOG antibody may play certain role in the pathogenesis.