The nurse anesthetist perioperative dialog

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Anesthesiology
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Perioperative dialogue is crucial for nurse anesthetists (NAs) to understand patient history and alleviate suffering.
• NAs witness patient experiences pre-, intra-, and postoperatively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe nurse anesthetists' experiences of the perioperative dialogue.
• To explore the role of dialogue in patient care during the perioperative period.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study design.
• Interviews conducted with 12 nurse anesthetists.
• Interpretive content analysis adhering to COREQ guidelines.

Main Results:

• Three emergent categories: mutual meeting (preoperative), patient needs/wishes (intraoperative), and creating safety (postoperative).
• Preoperative dialogue establishes trust through NA presence and listening.
• Intraoperative dialogue emphasizes NA's and patient's body language interpretation.
• Postoperative dialogue restores patient control through knowledge of care.

Conclusions:

• Patients are met as individuals with unique needs and wishes, requiring both physical and mental engagement.
• Genuine relationships between NAs and patients foster trust and facilitate patient empowerment.
• Perioperative dialogue is fundamental in creating a safe environment for patients undergoing surgery.