The first Reiki practitioner in our OR - operating room

AORN Journal, March, 1998 by Jeanette Sawyer

A few months ago, as a clinical coordinator in a busy 16-room OR, I received an unusual request from a surgeon. He asked if it would it be possible for a patient's "healer," a Reiki (pronounced ray-kee) practitioner, to be present during a surgical laparoscopic procedure. I was pleased that the surgeon had taken The time to discuss issues that were important to the patient, but at the same time, this request led to many other questions and concerns. I wondered what risks were involved. Who should I contact for the answers, and who could make the decision to allow the healer to accompany the patient into the OR?

First, I voiced my concerns to the director of perioperative services and the medical director of the OR. Some of the questions that arose were: What were the risks of having a nonmedical person in the room during surgery? What would occur if there were problems with intubation or if the equipment malfunctioned? Who was this "healer," and what was she actually going to do with or to the patient? Would the whole team have to support her function? Could she be asked to leave at any time during the procedure? Was she a nurse? Would we be liable for anything she might say or do? Did she have OR experience?

We contacted the risk management department and scheduled a meeting that included me. the hospital's lawyer, the perioperative services and medical directors, an anesthesiologist, and the surgeon to determine how to handle this situation legally and still satisfy the patient's request. Everyone agreed that the practitioner should be allowed into the OR if both she and the patient signed a waiver consent stating that everything in the OR was confidential, that the patient did indeed want the practitioner present, and that the practitioner could be asked to leave at any time. Also, we agreed that I would present a brief overview to the practitioner about OR-specific OSHA standards on the morning of the procedure and stay with her while she was in the OR. The anesthesiologist would arrange for an anesthesia care provider who would be comfortable having the practitioner present during the entire procedure.

The gynecology staff nurses were informed and wanted to participate in any way possible that would provide an enhanced atmosphere for the patient's comfort and well-being. Everyone seemed very comfortable with all the arrangements that had been made.

Being an open-minded person. I had always been interested in the holistic approach to healing, and I realize that there are some things about the human body that are not fully understood. I believe that combining complementary medicine with conventional treatments can lead to a better outcome for the patient. Many nurses have known for years the power of transpersonal relationships in healing, and although this had never been openly practiced in our OR, I was willing to give it a try.

On the morning of surgery, I met Ms R, the practitioner, and Mrs J, the patient, who was a very apprehensive 45-year-old woman in the same day surgery program area. Mrs J was concerned about undergoing the surgical procedure as she had experienced a poor outcome from a previous procedure. She was extremely pleased that her request to have a practitioner with her during surgery had been honored.

Ms R explained that she was going to use Reiki as the adjunct therapy. Reiki is a type of energy medicine that is noninvasive and is a hands-on healing art. It is a relaxation technique that acts through the autonomic nervous system to lower the blood pressure and heart rate to relieve tension and anxiety. This relaxation is said to assist the abilities of the immune system to defend against bacteria and viruses. It helps stimulate the brain's production of endorphins; that act to decrease the perception of pain and create a state of well-being.

Mrs J had an audiotape of music that she had selected to be played via headphones as she was being inducted and Ms R would read and repeat certain statements during the procedure. After the nurse made her preoperative visit and Mrs J and Ms R signed the special consent, we proceeded to the OR suite.

The OR environment was quiet and relaxed. Mrs J had the headphones in place and the music was on. Ms R stood at the Mrs J's side and held her hand. The induction was smooth. Ms R began to read the statements in a low monotone that did not interfere with any conversation in the surgical field.

After a flawless procedure, Mrs J was extubated quietly and was transferred to the postanesthesia care unit with Ms R accompanying her. Mrs J woke as if she had just taken a nap. She did not require any postoperative pain medication and was sitting up and smiling when I visited her approximately 30 minutes later. She thanked everyone for their support and she expressed that she was grateful to have undergone her procedure in an institution that was open to her needs. Mrs J wanted to feel cared for and nurtured and to have a sense of meaning in life. She believed that having this would have an effect on the course of her disease. I believe that these feelings certainly affect outcomes as much as our technical skills and interventions.