Editor's Note Non-OR anesthesia (NORA) is a growing component of anesthesiology practice in the US, this study finds. The proportion of NORA cases overall increased from 28.3% in 2010 to 35.9% in 2014, and the proportion of NORA outpatient cases increased from 69.7% to 73.3%. Colonoscopy was the most common…

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The postanesthesia care unit (PACU) is no longer used just to recover patients after surgery. Multiple departments use it for various procedures, from electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) to regional blocks, as well as to ease emergency department (ED) overcrowding. This makes it difficult to manage bed availability, OR scheduling, and patient…

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Editor's Note A survey of critical care nurses found moderate levels of postcode stress and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms after unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of patients. In 490 nurses surveyed, four coping behaviors (ie, denial, self-distraction, self-blame, and behavioral disengagement) were significant predictors of PTSD symptom severity. Nurses who…

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If you told OR leaders they could onboard a nurse without previous surgical experience in just 12 weeks, most would scoff, “Impossible!” But at Sutter Health University, the impossible has become not only possible, but highly successful, thanks to an innovative program created by Renee Dodge, MSN, RN, RNFA, CNOR,…

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Editor's Note The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on December 13 issued a final rule allowing full practice authority for certain advanced practice registered nurses working in VA facilities, including certified nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives. The rule excludes certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), following lobbying…

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Editor's Note Nonoperating room anesthesia (NORA) is a growing component of anesthesiology practice, this study finds. The proportion of NORA cases overall increased from 28.3% in 2010 to 35.9% in 2014, and the mean age of NORA patients increased significantly faster than OR patients. Compared with OR cases, more NORA…

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Editor's Note Discontinuity in nursing care in hospitals was high and negatively impacted patient clinical conditions in this study. Discontinuity in care declined from nearly 100% in the first 24 hours, to 70% at 36 hours, and to 50% by the 10th day after admission. Each instance of discontinuity lead…

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Editor's Note The World Health Organization (WHO) on November 3 released the “Global Guidelines for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection,” which includes a list of 29 recommendations (13 preoperative and 16 intra- and postoperative). Included in the recommendations are: ensuring patients take a preoperative bath or shower no shaving…

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Editor's Note The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) on August 23 granted its mid-year 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award to 20 accredited US cancer programs. The purposed of the award is to: raise the bar on quality cancer care recognize programs that achieve excellence in providing…

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Editor's Note Implementation of a telephone postoperative clinic significantly improved utilization of surgeon and facility resources while maintaining patient outcomes, this study finds. Of 200 patients included in the study, 29 had in-person postoperative follow-up and 171 had telephone follow-up. There was no difference in rates of emergency department visits…

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