Communication Between Postdelivery Mothers in the PACU and Newborns in Israel.

BACKGROUND: Perioperative, maternity, and newborn nurses discovered a solution using modern technology to facilitate earlier "connection" between postcesarean section mothers and their newborns using televised video conference (VC) or telemedicine. Videoconferencing used as a support in cases of separation after childbirth can facilitate a first "meeting" closer to the time of birth. AIM: The aim of this study was to design and validate the use of video conferencing to facilitate "bonding" between postdelivery cesarean delivery mothers who are separated from their infants. DESIGN: Mixed quantitative and qualitative. METHOD: Mothers (n = 29) completed questionnaires investigating immediate postpartum needs for communication with their newborns. Questionnaire analysis revealed the primary need is connection and communication. The nursing team developed a VC system between postanesthesia care unit and newborn unit including nurse-mother instruction. Mothers (n = 10) were qualitatively queried regarding their VC experience. RESULTS: When prioritizing, mothers found the most important need is to see the infant. Eight themes were found: revelation, calming effect, closer look at the baby, video better than picture, excitement, short-timing sufficient, provision of strength, and confidence. CONCLUSION: The nursing team successfully coordinated new technologies to the hospital setting to fulfill mothers' needs. After evaluation of mothers' impressions, it was found that this technology is adaptable to hospital setting and postdelivery environment. Most importantly, this method contributes to improved well-being for postpartum mothers.

Nurse liaison: the bridge between the perioperative department and patient accompaniers.

The role of the perioperative nurse liaison at Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Ein Kerem in Jerusalem, Israel, is to provide information and help patients' family members and others accompanying surgical patients cope with feelings of uncertainty, emotional stress, and fear. The nurse liaison is responsible for ongoing communication with patient accompaniers awaiting the conclusion of surgery and, in particular, for updating them on the surgery's progress. As part of a quality assurance project, the OR academic assistant, the OR nursing supervisor, and the coordinator of clinical quality and assurance in nursing conducted a quantitative descriptive survey to evaluate patient accompaniers' satisfaction with the updates provided by the nurse liaison throughout surgery and with the waiting room conditions. Results indicated that the nurse liaison makes a significant contribution to the welfare of patient accompaniers during surgery. In addition, results showed a need to improve the waiting room conditions to allow for more privacy.

Preoperative briefing in the operating room: shared cognition, teamwork, and patient safety.

Contemporary preoperative team briefings conducted to improve patient safety focus mainly on supplying identification details regarding the patient and the surgical procedure. Drawing on cognitive theory principles, in this study a briefing protocol was developed that presents a broader perspective model of the patient and the planned procedure. In addition to customary identification details and drug sensitivities, the new briefing also includes review of significant background information, needed equipment, planned surgery stages, and so forth. The briefing content was developed following 130 continuous, nonstructured observations conducted in gynecologic and orthopedic operating rooms. The briefing form was designed as a large poster hung in a visible position on the operating room wall. The poster guides the team members (ie, nurses, surgeons, and anesthesiologists) in their conduct. Briefing is conducted orally, and no written records are required. The number of nonroutine events (ie, situations that, if not corrected, might lead to patient harm) observed in the 130 surgeries conducted without briefing was compared with the number of events in 102 surgeries in which briefing was conducted. There was a 25% reduction in the number of nonroutine events when briefing was conducted and a significant increase in the number of surgeries in which no nonroutine event was observed. Team members evaluated the briefing as most valuable for their own work, the teamwork, and patient safety. Following the study, the new briefing format was accepted and adopted for routine use. Team briefings designed to supply a broader-perspective surgery model may be an easy-to-apply tool to reduce the number of nonroutine events during surgery and increase patient safety.