Date of Graduation

5-2022

Document Type

Capstone

Keywords

Discharge teaching/education; Preoperative instructions/education; Video teaching; Patient education/teaching; Ambulatory care /same day surgery; Discharge preparedness

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Degree Level

Graduate

Advisor/Mentor

Kippenbrock, Thomas

Committee Member

Patton, Susan

Second Committee Member

Burgess, Jade

Abstract

Background: Use of ambulatory surgery centers providing outpatient surgical procedures has grown due to medical advances, short stays that reduce costs, and convenience for the patient. However, due to the reduced time between diagnosis and surgery, there is a decreased amount of time available for education and discharge teaching. Historically, discharge education is provided after surgery in written form while the effects of anesthesia and pain medication impair a patient’s ability to retain information. This leads to increased reports of uncontrolled pain, poor comprehension, and higher rates of adverse events due to poor comprehension of discharge orders.

Methods: The development and implementation of a preoperative educational video was aimed at increasing the patient’s perceived preparedness for discharge. This quality improvement project utilized a pre and post video questionnaire that was taken by the patient on arrival to the preoperative area and then after viewing the video prior to their surgical start time.

Results: There was an increase in the preparedness scores after the video, a reduction in length of stay in the discharge area, and a majority met or exceeded pain goal attainment at discharge.

Conclusion: If patients are prepared for surgery, recovery, and self-care, then they are less likely to need additional discharge time, incur adverse events, and they can return home with confidence. The use of technology to educate patients allows the patient to learn through visual and auditory channels, at their convenience, before and after discharge.

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