Pre-operative teaching: how does a group of nurses do it?

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Surgical Care
• Patient Education

Background:

• Adequate pre-operative instructions are crucial for reducing patient anxiety and post-operative complications.
• Existing research indicates a gap between nurses' perceptions and patients' actual pre-operative needs.
• Effective pre-operative teaching enhances patient engagement in their healthcare journey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how surgical ward nurses organize and deliver pre-operative teaching.
• To identify the challenges faced by nurses during pre-operative patient education.
• To provide insights into current pre-operative teaching practices in surgical wards.

Main Methods:

• A case study approach was employed to investigate the practices of surgical ward nurses.
• Qualitative exploration of how nurses conduct pre-operative teaching.
• Analysis of factors influencing the organization and implementation of pre-operative teaching.

Main Results:

• Nurses' professional training significantly impacts their approach to pre-operative teaching.
• Rote learning methods are prevalent in current pre-operative education delivery.
• The timing of patient admissions affects the nurses' ability to provide comprehensive pre-operative instructions.
• Identified discrepancies between perceived and actual patient needs in pre-operative care.

Conclusions:

• Nurses' training, reliance on rote learning, and admission timing are key factors influencing pre-operative teaching effectiveness.
• Addressing these identified challenges can optimize pre-operative patient education strategies.
• This study serves as a reflective tool for nurses to enhance their pre-operative teaching practices.