Nurses versus clinicians - Who's best at pre-operative assessment?

Abstract

Previous studies have emphasised the lack of relevant medical history information available for patients attending for surgery. The records of 57, consecutive patients attending the nurse-led Pre-Admission Clinic (PAC) at the Oral Surgery Day Case Unit at Newcastle Dental Hospital were reviewed to determine whether nurses or clinicians were best at identifying potential medical problems. For 22 patients, nurse-led PAC interview revealed additional information not recorded by clinicians, most frequently cardiovascular disorders (9), arthritis (5) and drug allergies (2). Pancreatitis, epilepsy, recurrent epistaxis and a history of a fractured mandible were other conditions only identified following nurse consultation. Medical history taking by nurses at PAC thus provides an important screening function prior to successful ambulatory surgery. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.