Preoperative Education for Total Knee Replacement: A National Survey of Orthopaedic Nurses.

BACKGROUND: Preoperative education aids in reducing the incidence of poor outcomes after total knee replacement (TKR) and increasing patient readiness for discharge home but is not well described in the literature. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to describe the current design of preoperative education for TKR across the United States. METHODS: A large, national sample of orthopaedic nurses completed an online survey to describe preoperative education at their facilities. RESULTS: Most participants provided preoperative education as part of interprofessional teams in either a group format or combined group and individual education. Verbal instruction was the most common educational delivery method, followed by written instruction. Education typically lasted between 1 and 1.5 hours, was delivered in a single session, and included a variety of topics. CONCLUSION: Results of this study describe preoperative educational practices and can support future research to improve patient outcomes following TKR surgery.

International Nursing: Use of a Commercially Available Smartphone Application to Solve Information Needs of Orthopedic Scrub Nurses.

The purpose of this article is to describe the use of a commercially available smartphone application to solve information needs of scrub nurses in orthopedic surgery. A semistructured, focus group interview was conducted with orthopedic scrub nurses. These nurses had solved their information needs about orthopedic surgery by using a commercially available smartphone application. Because of smartphone technology's convenience, accessibility, mobility, ease of use, and use at no charge, it is worth considering in nursing practice, education, and research.

Keeping Up With Current Orthopaedic Nursing Practice: Results of the ONCB 2016 Role Delineation Study.

BACKGROUND: The Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board (ONCB) conducts a role delineation study (RDS), also known as a job task analysis, every 5 years. Results identify tasks performed by orthopaedic registered nurses and nurse practitioners, as well as musculoskeletal health conditions commonly experienced by their patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to define current practice patterns among orthopaedic nurses and nurse practitioners to determine content for future certification examinations. METHOD: An online survey methodology was used to identify task and knowledge statements representative of orthopaedic nursing practice. FINDINGS: Of 6,462 e-mails sent, 904 valid responses were returned (response rate 13.9%). This is lower than results of the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board's 2010 RDS (22.7% response rate) but is considered acceptable for an RDS. CONCLUSION: Survey results were analyzed by ONCB Test Committee members with guidance from psychometric staff at PSI/AMP. PSI/AMP staff were used to review and revise examination specifications for the Orthopaedic Nurse Certified (ONC) and Orthopaedic Nurse Practitioner-Certified (ONP-C) certification programs. New examination specification and passing points were implemented with April 2018 testing.

Summary: NAON's Best Practice Guideline, Total Hip Replacement (Arthroplasty).

This article summarizes the Best Practice Guideline for Total Hip Replacement (Arthroplasty) recently released by the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON). The summary highlights the process of content development utilizing a systematic literature review and resulting recommendations for nursing care strategies throughout the patient care continuum. The authors of the Best Practice Guideline are expert nurses working in Joint Commission Disease Specific Certified clinical settings. The Summary concludes reminding readers of the purpose and focus of the guideline to enhance clinician knowledge and to improve patient care pathways and, ultimately, patient outcomes.

Nurse Practitioners in Orthopaedic Surgical Settings: A Review of the Literature.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article was to conduct an extensive literature review of nurse practitioners (NPs) in orthopaedic surgical settings to delineate whether a need exists for NPs in these settings. BACKGROUND: Due to physician shortages and changes in healthcare, patients are experiencing difficulty accessing orthopaedic surgeons. To meet this need, NPs are becoming an essential part of the multidisciplinary orthopaedic team in Level 1 trauma hospitals. RESULTS: Nurse practitioners are qualified and competent to work in a variety of orthopaedic settings including preoperative clinics, primary care orthopaedic clinics, and pre-/postoperative care within the hospital. The benefits of NPs in orthopaedic surgical settings includes increased access to care, improved team communication, decreased length of stay, improved quality of care, and improved patient satisfaction. Moreover, NPs meet patient needs while surgeons are operating, and have a positive impact on resident surgeon education. CONCLUSION: A need exists for NPs in orthopaedic surgical settings to both improve access to healthcare for patients and reduce the burden on orthopaedic surgeons.