Nurses' use of evidence in pre-operative fasting

Ensuring that a patient fasts before an operation is perhaps one of the most fundamental pre-operative responsibilities that nurses might perform on a daily basis. However, in this article it will be suggested that, despite the undisputed body of evidence spanning more than two decades that demonstrates appropriate fasting times, nurses still commonly fast patients for too long.

By reviewing the literature on pre-operative fasting and reflecting on the evidence base for nursing practice, this article aims to offer explanations of why nurses act contrary to evidence which suggests that their practice is outdated.