Interaction Between Nurse Anesthetists and Patients in a Highly Technological Environment

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology
• Nursing Science
• Healthcare Interaction

Background:

• The operating room is a highly technological environment.
• Patient-nurse anesthetist interaction is crucial during the peri-anesthesia period.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore patient-nurse anesthetist interactions.
• Focus on the period between operating room entry and anesthesia induction.
• Investigate the role of technology in these interactions.

Main Methods:

• Focused ethnography was employed for data collection.
• Participant observation and interviews with 13 patients and 13 nurse anesthetists.
• Photographic documentation of the environment and technological objects.
• Grounded theory-inspired analysis.

Main Results:

• A core variable identified is 'creating emotional energy'.
• Two subcore variables were delineated: 'instilling trust' and 'performing embodied actions'.
• These elements are key to the patient-nurse anesthetist dynamic.

Conclusions:

• Creating emotional energy significantly impacts patient-nurse anesthetist interactions.
• The underlying motives of nurse anesthetists are central to developing anesthesia care.
• Enhancing emotional energy can improve the patient experience in anesthesia.