Nurse education in surgical preparation in the ER

Abstract

　Emergency surgery performed in the emergency room requires rapid preparation. The purpose of this article was to introduce an evaluation chart for nurses that enables objective evaluation of the preparation for emergency surgery in an emergency room and to clarify related issues. Sixteen ER nurses were assessed, and preparation for emergency surgery was simulated using an evaluation chart with 10 items and 43 sub-items. The results showed that, while the scores were relatively high for recording the clinical course and calling for reinforcement, issues were identified in the preparation of the surgical apparatus, medicine cart, suction, blood transfusion, environmental setting, and anesthesia machine. In particular, inadequate procedures for setting up the anesthesia machine, placing human resources, and preparing the surgical apparatus were notable, suggesting that issues remained with the contents of action cards for emergency surgery and the daily management of surgery-specific apparatus. Revising the action cards to strengthen apparatus management, enhancing education on anesthesia machines, and continuing periodic simulation training are considered necessary.