Positive Patient Outcomes Mean Education. - audio-visual reviews

AORN Journal, Sept, 1997 by Catherine S. Richards

Preoperative teaching frequently takes a back seat to the tasks surrounding the preparation of supplies and equipment for surgical intervention. This videotape and its accompanying study guide provide an excellent means by which to infuse new life into a perioperative education program.

The 20-minute videotape can be viewed easily at a staff education meeting or during downtime between surgical procedures. The information is presented realistically through the eyes of a perioperative nurse. The videotape provides insightful, age-appropriate suggestions to assist perioperative nurses in developing strategies for preoperative patient education.

One of the scenarios presented in the videotape is that of a perioperative nurse who has undergone breast surgery. She relates her experience as well as that of her family members during the preoperative period. She describes her fears and concerns to help viewers better understand the anxiety a patient experiences before surgery, even if he or she is familiar with the OR environment.

Practical matters such as the development of a patient taching record are discussed to help perioperative nurses realize that patient education does not have to be a complex undertaking to be effective. Simple questions such as "Who is there for me?" and "What do I need to learn?" are included in the teaching documentation. The education highlights are targeted to answer the basic questions of the patient -- what, when, and why.

The teaching guide that accompanies the videotape is thorough in presenting the benefits of patient education, cultural and socioeconomic influences of the patient, tips for nurse educators and learners, methods of education presentation, the nursing process, and implications for management. An appendix of competency statements for perioperative nurses regarding patient education and a suggested reading list also are included.

In this age of shrinking budgets and staff numbers, the study guide provides documentation to assist in the justification of a perioperative patient education program. Topics such as decreased length of stay, less pain, fewer complications, faster recovery, and institutional marketing advantage are addressed. This videotape and teaching guide are an excelient method of promoting increased efficiency in the surgical services department by joining together the various health care team members to focus on perioperative patient education needs and the role each can play in meeting those needs.

The videotape and study guide are sponsored by Sherwood, Davis + Geck, and they are available for purchase at $70 or rental at $45 through the AORN Perioperative Nursing Video Library. To order the videotape and study guide, call Cine-Med, distributor for the AORN video library, at (800) 633-0004.