Nurse anaesthetists' experiences with pre-operative anxiety

• Aims To explore nurse anaesthetists’ experiences and actions when administering and caring for children requiring anaesthesia.Method A qualitative design employing critical incident technique was used. Interviews were carried out with a purposeful sample of nurse anaesthetists (n=32). The nurse anaesthetists’ experiences were grouped into two main areas: organisation focused and interrelational focused. Actions were grouped into two main areas: optimising the situation and creating interpersonal interaction.Findings The categories and subcategories of the nurses’ experiences appeared to influence the outcome for the child. The nurse anaesthetists’ first priority was to create an optimal environment and increase sensitivity in their interactions with the child.Conclusion Sensitivity to the child and flexibility in altering actions are key strategies to avoid physical restraint.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Anaesthesia

children’s surgery

nurse anaesthetists

pre-operative anxiety

peri-operative nursing

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)