Nursing study finds patient-centered care benefits

Editor's Note

Task-centered care in the OR can impede a nurse’s capacity to be present for their patients. Findings from a qualitative study on nurse experiences with patients showed that a shift is needed toward more patient-centered care that includes time for reflection, critical thinking, and openness among OR nurses, according to a study published in the December issue of AORN Journal.

Because the OR can be an impersonal environment characterized by technical equipment, sterile setups, and low temperatures that creates barriers to interpersonal interaction, the researchers led a qualitative study with OR nurses and better understand the ways that they balance technical precision with empathic care.

The researchers divided the OR nurse experiences into seven distinct themes, situated between an inner sphere of presence, intimacy, and patient-centered care and an outer sphere of cold, task-centered care, per the study. Several trends were observed.

For example, the OR nurses described instances where patients needed a calming touch. They explained how they offered touch to establish tactile empathy, aiming to generate a present and calming environment. In a separate theme, the ORNs described how it may be a complex task to initiate a conversation with a patient because of the brief time available.

They also encountered a diverse range of conversational needs where some patients were serious and asked questions, others were angry or frustrated, and some needed gentle, calming dialogue.

The investigators concluded that OR nurses’ sensory awareness can empower a caring atmosphere. They suggested that shifting from a task-centered to a more patient-centered approach may help rekindle a focus on individualized and present care.

To support this, they said reflection, critical thinking, and openness among OR nurses should be encouraged in clinical practice.