The role of the nurse coordinator in the enhanced recovery after surgery program

An Evaluation Index System to Assess Nurse Competency in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Programs: A Delphi Study

PURPOSE

To construct an index system to evaluate the competencies of nurses in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs and provide a scientific foundation for their training and assessment.

METHODS

Utilizing a literature review and semi-structured interviews, a preliminary indicator system was constructed. Based on the preliminary indicator system, a Delphi questionnaire was developed and utilized to achieve consensus among experts in two rounds of Delphi studies. The indicators were selected based on a mean importance score greater than 4 and a coefficient of variation less than .25. The weights of the indicators were calculated using the Analytic Hierarchy Process.

RESULTS

The study developed a system that evaluates the competencies of nurses involved in ERAS programs, offering a reference for their training and evaluation. The final index system includes 7 primary indicators, 20 secondary indicators, and 66 tertiary indicators. The primary indicators consist of competencies in the following components: 1) Direct clinical practice (20 items); 2) Expert coaching and guidance (9 items); 3) Consultation (6 items); 4) Research (7 items); 5) Leadership (11 items); 6) Collaboration (8 items); and 7) Ethical decision-making (5 items).

CONCLUSION

The developed competency evaluation index system is reliable and can serve as a foundation for the selection, training, and assessment of ERAS nurses.

[The nurse coordinator, a central element in the improved rehabilitation pathway after surgery]

Enhanced Rehabilitation after Surgery (ERAS) is a paradigm involving a new organization of surgical care pathways. Its main objective is to maximize the rehabilitation of people undergoing surgery. It is a multimodal approach based on evidence-based data and high-level recommendations, combined with daily assessment of the quality of the patient's surgical pathway using clinical indicators grouped around some twenty recommendations. This implementation requires the involvement of all professionals involved in the care process. The ERAS nurse coordinator is one of them.

Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) Implementation and Barriers among Healthcare Providers in France: A Cross-Sectional Study

The implementation of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a challenge for healthcare systems, especially in case of patients undergoing major surgery. Despite a proven significant reduction in postoperative complications and hospital lengths of stay, ERAS protocols are inconsistently used in real-world practice, and barriers have been poorly described in a cohort comprising medical and paramedical professionals. This study aims to assess the proportion of French healthcare providers who practiced ERAS and to identify barriers to its implementation amongst those surveyed. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study to survey healthcare providers about their practice of ERAS using an online questionnaire. Healthcare providers were contacted through hospital requests, private hospital group requests, professional corporation requests, social networks, and personal contacts. The questionnaire was also designed to explore barriers to ERAS implementation. Identified barriers were allocated by two independent assessors to one of the fourteen domains of the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), which is an integrative framework based on behavior change theories that can be used to identify issues relating to evidence on the implementation of best practice in healthcare settings. One hundred and fifty-three French healthcare providers answered the online questionnaire (76% female, median age 35 years (IQR: 29 to 48)). Physiotherapists, nurses, and dieticians were the most represented professions (31.4%, 24.2%, and, 14.4%, respectively). Amongst those surveyed, thirty-one practiced ERAS (20.3%, 95%CI: 13.9 to 26.63). Major barriers to ERAS practice were related to the "Environmental context and resources" domain (57.6%, 95%CI: 49.5-65.4), e.g., lack of professionals, funding, and coordination, and the "Knowledge" domain (52.8%, 95%CI: 44.7-60.8), e.g., ERAS unawareness. ERAS in major surgery is seldom practiced in France due to the unfavorable environment (i.e., logistics issues, and lack of professionals and funding) and a low rate of procedure awareness. Future studies should focus on devising and assessing strategies (e.g., education and training, collaboration, institutional support, the development of healthcare networks, and leveraging telehealth and technology) to overcome these barriers, thereby promoting the wider implementation of ERAS.

Determination of Knowledge and Attitudes of Cardiac Surgery Nurses Regarding the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine the knowledge and attitudes of cardiac surgery nurses regarding the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol.

DESIGN

This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 50 nurses working in the cardiovascular surgery clinic of a university hospital in the province of Izmir, Turkey. A questionnaire consisting of three sections was prepared by the researchers to collect data. The first section of the form captured sociodemographic and descriptive characteristics; the second section examined the level of knowledge about the enhanced recovery protocol for cardiac surgery; the third section captured the nurses' attitudes regarding the enhanced recovery protocol. The questionnaire was distributed to the nurses and the research data were collected after a certain amount of time. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and correlation analysis were used in the analysis of the data.

FINDINGS

The mean age of the nurses was 31.26 ± 6.74 (min = 23, max = 47); 78% were female; 76% had a bachelor's degree; 48% were employed in the intensive care unit. The mean score of the nurses regarding their level of knowledge on the enhanced recovery protocol for cardiac surgery was 18.70 ± 5.29 (min = 0.00, max = 28.00); the mean score regarding attitude toward the enhanced recovery protocol after surgery was 30.00 ± 3.86 (min = 12.00, max = 33.00). There was a positive, moderate, statistically significant correlation (r = 0.396, P = .005) between the mean knowledge level score and the mean attitude level score.

CONCLUSIONS

Results showed that nurses' knowledge was at a moderately positive level. Increasing the level of knowledge increased positive attitudes. Recommendations include disseminating protocol information and providing necessary training to increase positive attitudes in an effort to ensure protocol adherance.

Guidelines on perioperative optimization protocol for the adult patient 2023

OBJECTIVE

The French Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine [Société Française d'Anesthésie et de Réanimation (SFAR)] aimed at providing guidelines for the implementation of perioperative optimization programs.

DESIGN

A consensus committee of 29 experts from the SFAR was convened. A formal conflict-of-interest policy was developed at the outset of the process and enforced throughout. The entire guidelines process was conducted independently of any industry funding. The authors were advised to follow the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system to guide assessment of quality of evidence.

METHODS

Four fields were defined: 1) Generalities on perioperative optimization programs; 2) Preoperative measures; 3) Intraoperative measures and; 4) Postoperative measures. For each field, the objective of the recommendations was to answer a number of questions formulated according to the PICO model (population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes). Based on these questions, an extensive bibliographic search was carried out using predefined keywords according to PRISMA guidelines and analyzed using the GRADE® methodology. The recommendations were formulated according to the GRADE® methodology and then voted on by all the experts according to the GRADE grid method. As the GRADE® methodology could have been fully applied for the vast majority of questions, the recommendations were formulated using a "formalized expert recommendations" format.

RESULTS

The experts' work on synthesis and application of the GRADE® method resulted in 30 recommendations. Among the formalized recommendations, 19 were found to have a high level of evidence (GRADE 1±) and ten a low level of evidence (GRADE 2±). For one recommendation, the GRADE methodology could not be fully applied, resulting in an expert opinion. Two questions did not find any response in the literature. After two rounds of rating and several amendments, strong agreement was reached for all the recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

Strong agreement among the experts was obtained to provide 30 recommendations for the elaboration and/or implementation of perioperative optimization programs in the highest number of surgical fields.

The current and future role of nurses within enhanced recovery after surgery pathways

BACKGROUND

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways have been proven to expedite recovery after many procedures and reduce lengths of stay in hospital and surgical complications. However, improvements are still needed, especially in postoperative ERAS components delivered by nurses such as early mobilisation and oral feeding. This article summarises the current and possible future role of nurses within ERAS, and recommends areas for future research.

DISCUSSION

Nurses are the professionals who spend the most time with patients throughout the perioperative pathway and are known to play a vital role in delivering many components of an ERAS pathway. They frequently co-ordinate care across disciplines and ensure continuity of care. However, there is a paucity of ERAS research specific to nurses compared to other professional groups. Continual training on ERAS will be required to ensure nurses are highly educated and for the best possible ERAS implementation. In certain types of surgery, nurses may fulfil extended roles in the postoperative period, such as taking over responsibility and leadership for co-ordinating pain management, mobilisation and discharge. However, this requires a well-defined care programme, a clear definition of nursing responsibilities from surgeons, agreed discharge criteria and highly qualified nurses, along with the collection and analysis of data to test safety and efficacy.

CONCLUSION

Increasing nurse involvement in ERAS research is vital to drive improvements in care and to develop nursing roles. Nurses should have a major role in the preoperative clinic, the early postoperative phase and the follow-up post-discharge period, where the benefits of ERAS need to be further documented.

From Fast-track to Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) in Radical Cystectomy Pathways –a Nursing Perspective

Objective

The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize existing knowledge and evidence about the establishment of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways with emphasize on radical cystectomy (RC), and the emerging and prominent role of nursing within the ERAS pathway. The current status of implementation and adherence to ERAS protocol in RC is discussed and the impact on primary outcomes according to ERAS is summarized.

Methods

The review was conducted based on a focused search in PubMed and CINAHL.

Results

The goal of a modern RC enhanced recovery protocols (ERPs) anno 2022 is to have a positive impact on patient care from diagnosis throughout recovery with focus on the quality, rather than speed, of recovery. This may be more in alignment with the patient's needs and preferences.

Conclusions

Nursing has been in the forefront since the establishment of ERAS, and the nurse-coordinator must be skilled in evidence-based medicine and have excellent communicative competencies to support the patient journey. Implementation of ERAS have reduced hospitalization by improved minimal surgery, optimized anesthetic regimes without increasing readmission rates. It is not known which items can reduce post-operative complications. In the future, nurses should seek a more prominent and leading role during the implementation process and take responsibility for continued education of the staff. Likewise, future nursing interventions will focus on early identification of modifiable risk factors, and a deeper exploration of the patients personally needs and preferences to upcoming surgery could optimize adherence throughout the pathway, which may add to positive outcomes.

[Structured Implementation of a Fast-Track Program - How Does it Work?]

Fast-track or ERAS programs can give clinically relevant benefits for patients undergoing surgery. They also have financial advantages for the hospital. Despite these facts, fast-track has been implemented in only very few hospitals in Germany. Neither scientific evidence nor reimbursement regulations explain this lack of fast-track acceptance. It seems however that a structured process of change from traditional perioperative medicine to evidence based fast-track therapy is missing in Germany. In other countries, structured programs for fast-track or ERAS implementation have been successful in many hospitals. This article describes structured fast-track implementation divided into three consecutive steps: organisational preparation, clinical implementation and continuous examination of fast-track adherence, functional recovery, morbidity and postoperative length of hospital stay. Due to its complex nature, fast-track implementation should be guided by external fast-track experts.

Organization Factors in the ERAS Bladder Cancer Pathway: The Multifarious Role of the ERAS Nurse, Why and What Is Important?

OBJECTIVE

This paper provides an overview of the multifarious role of nursing in enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in advanced bladder cancer surgery with procedure-specific recommendations in radical cystectomy pathways.

DATA SOURCES

Electronic databases including PubMed and CINAHL.

CONCLUSION

The growing evidence of preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative interventions and the concept of reacting proactively in ERAS, has led to the paradigm shift in the surgical pathway with establishment of nurse-led multi-professional prehabilitation academies. Moreover, although most patients will recover in real-life at home, there is a need for a change in postoperative and discharge management. Thus, a highly skilled discharge nurse is required to secure a comprehensive, safe discharge plan adjusted to the patient's needs in close cooperation with the primary care setting, family, and survivorship clinic if needed. Limited efforts have been made to evaluate rational principles and goals for rehabilitation after radical cystectomy; an important issue with major patient and perhaps socioeconomic consequences, wherein the ERAS nurse may take the future lead.

IMPLICATION FOR NURSING PRACTICE

It has become a governmental demand in many countries to involve the patient and family in treatment decisions and care by using shared decision tools, and to educate and inform each family in concordance with the patient's needs and preferences, and the health care systems must react accordingly. However, to provide person-centeredness care within advanced surgical pathways, there remains a need for thought-leaders, strategic planners, managers, and decision-makers to anchor the process of change and stop "we do it anyway" arguments to defend organizational cultures that are not conducing the evidence-recommend practice.

Exploring the fundamental aspects of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery nurse's role

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a multimodal, multidisciplinary programme that aims to limit surgical stress during the perioperative period. The importance of a facilitator to improve patients' compliance with the ERAS pathway and ensure its successful implementation is described in the literature. This role is commonly undertaken by a nurse, but it is unclear what their role entails in practice.

AIM

To investigate the common aspects of the role of the ERAS nurse, and similar roles.

METHOD

A modified Delphi technique was used to explore the opinions of ERAS nurses, facilitators and their colleagues in the UK. A series of consensus statements on the role of the ERAS nurse were produced that were voted on and agreed via an online survey, then subsequently voted on at the seventh ERAS UK conference.

RESULTS

Six consensus statements were proposed and agreed in the second round of voting. In the final round of voting, consensus was reached on four of the six statements related to data collection, patient education, staff education and patient support throughout the pathway. The two statements that did not reach consensus were related to leadership and project management.

CONCLUSION

It is hoped that by producing these consensus statements, the role of the ERAS nurse will be better understood by all members of multidisciplinary ERAS teams, particularly managers and decision-makers, and can be supported in the future.

How to implement an enhanced recovery programme after colorectal surgery?

INTRODUCTION

Although the concept of enhanced recovery after surgery was introduced more than 20 years ago, its implementation in daily practice still remains difficult.

RESULTS

This article addresses bottlenecks and barriers to the development of enhanced recovery programme (ERP). Barriers to the implementation are multifactorial and are raised by the different actors of these programmes: surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, patients. Solutions and steps that must be respected to succeed in introducing ERP in an hospital are proposed.

CONCLUSIONS

Large-scale implementation of ERP continues to face mainly lack of trust and communication. Solutions exist and are based particularly on team work and interdisciplinary collaboration.