Evaluation of Nurses’ practices Regarding Care for Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Abstract

Background: Although laparoscopic surgery has radically transformed surgical outcomes in cholelithiasis, the quality of bedside nursing interventions has a significant influence on the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic surgical interventions. Accurate performance of the perioperative operations are crucial towards the reduction of postoperative risks and expediting the recovery process.

Objectives: This research project was aimed at exploring clinical performance and procedural skills of nursing staff during the perioperative period of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery.

Methodology: As the observational cross-sectional approach was used, 60 nurses working in surgical departments and operating theaters were observed. The study involved a Standardized Observational Practice Checklist that was used to objectively assess the nursing practice in the direct care of the patient. Data analysis was aimed to determine the level and frequency of the tasks performed using descriptive statistical measurements.

Results: The results showed that 63.5 percent of the identified nursing activities were categorized as "Partially Performed. As a result of all these, the average score of the overall clinical practice was rated as being fair with a mean score of 1.65. The findings reveal an apparent discrepancy between the conventional nursing guidelines and real clinical practice in the observed surgical units.

Conclusions: A large share of the nursing work force is of moderate size of practical competence, which is described by the partial observance of the steps of comprehensive care. These findings underscore an urgent need to have systematic clinical models in order to normalize care in surgical nursing.

Recommendations: To cut the gap in nursing performance it is imperative that tough clinical training programs and practical workshops are put in place. The surgical wards must be furnished with new and standardized procedural manual to guide the staff in providing high quality and consistent care to laparoscopic patients.