Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig Alcalde Jose St.

, Kapasigan, Pasig City COLLEGE OF NURSING

An Action Research On: Environmental Factors Contributing to the Recovery of Patients From surgery: A Basis for Prevention of Developing Complications

In partial Fulfillment of the Requirement In Head Nursing: Emergency Department

Apruebo, Kristan Mico M. Natuel, Mary Rose P.

BSN-IV Orem November 29, 2011

I. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY Surgical ward is one of the divisions in the hospital wherein shared by patients who are preoperatively and post-operatively. There are several duties and responsibilities of a nurse who assigned in a surgery ward and they are primarily classified into two the preoperatively and postoperatively. In preoperative; preparation of patients for their procedure involves ensuring pre-medication is administered, the patient/guardian has given written consent, the required blood-tests have been done, identification labels and identification bracelets are correct, all allergies have been recorded in the patient's notes and that the patient has been fasted appropriately. In postoperatively; patient must be closely observed for signs of shock, arrest. The surgical nurse also ensures the wound created by the surgery is intact, and must be knowledgeable in wound care and the care of surgical drains. Surgical Nurses are responsible for the management of pain and post-operative nausea and vomiting, which are common post-operative side effects. The surgical nurse is also responsible for the discharge of the patient and giving the patient information on support systems and measures necessary to their recovery. Discharge time indicates the length of time elapsed from the end of surgery until a patient is discharged home after outpatient surgery. However, discharge time is relevant in an absolute sense to patients in planning for assistance on the day of surgery, and it has a direct bearing on cost of recovery after surgery, which is relevant to insurers, hospital administrators, and patients. There are several factors that may contribute to the fast recovery of a post-operative patient such as psychological, social, medical and environmental factors. It is very broad to discuss each factor, consequently the researcher selected to study more about environmental factors. Based on Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (ARHRQ), several research articles found under the positive distractions or have a good environment section of this report demonstrated significant improvements in patient outcomes resulting from factors such as music, access to sunlight and views of nature. Better outcomes may decrease length of stay. However, environment is not only focused on the positive/negative distractors but also to the cleanliness of the area. And According to Shah (2010), Nosocomial infections increase patients morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay and treatment cost.

Therefore, knowledge about the frequency and distribution of nosocomial infections is important to improve infection control measures as well as to develop effective preventive and curative strategies which, in turn, will help us in decreasing incidence, morbidity, mortality and associated treatment cost.

II. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY This Study Aims to: 1. Identify those positive environmental factors that could contribute to the recovery of patient from surgery. 2. Identify those negative environmental factors that could contribute to the recovery of patient from surgery. 3. Enumerate the importance of knowing those environmental factors. 4. Determine the possible actions that could be done to improve the environment of the ward. III. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The following are the sectors that could benefit from this study: Patients and their Significant Others They are primarily who benefit from this study, knowing such environmental factors could contribute to their recovery it can be either a barrier or it can be good factor that would help for their fast recovery. Determining barrier such as inadequate lighting, poor ventilation, noisy surroundings, and unclean environment wherein a contributing factor in their slow recovery, this would them to impose or improve the hospital protocol regarding maintaining high-quality environment for the benefits of post and pre operative patient. Patients Significant Others

They support the patient during their stay in the ward and as their financer on those medical bills; they could able to save money if the patient has a short period of time of hospitalization. Through, prevention of developing complication such nosocomial infection that they might acquired from unclean environment is very vital to minimize the period of time of hospitalization. Hospital Administrators They may be able to get some ideas that could improve their protocol regarding environmental factor that would probably help the patient to have a fast recovery. They could impose it also in the other area of the hospital not only in surgery ward. Health Care Practitioner As a health care provider, they are giving several medical attentions to uplift the health status of the patient. However, some factors hinders to the patient improvement. Thus, knowing and eliminating those factors would be able to ease the profession of the health care practitioner. IV. DATA SOURCES The data gathered for the action research are from books, articles, journals and electronic sources. The researchers had gathered their data was mostly from the internet. The information from these sources was thoroughly examined and was carefully selected by the researchers. Through observation, the researcher was derived specific factors that could affect the patient recovery in the surgery ward. We had also gathered data through face to face interview about their common complaint in their surrounding. And lastly, the researchers had meticulously discussed and analyzed the chosen data included in the research. V. DATA COLLECTION For the completion of the research, there are different data collection methods that were used by the researchers. Data were collected through the following methods: a. Previous Researches

The researchers first obtain an interesting topic through seeking information from various resources like article and electronic sources. Important information and similar information in the research were obtained to be utilized later in the study. b. Group Discussion Obtained data from different resources were discussed by the researchers. It was also added in the research. Conceptualization of the data collected was done by the researchers for further enhancement of the data collected. c. Interview The researchers had also done interviews to support the collected data. The respondents are patient from surgery ward of a certain local hospital. They were asked few questions regarding their negative and positive insight in their environment. The collected data from the respondents were carefully analyzed by the researchers. Results and conclusions were also made based on their answers. The following are the questions asked to the respondents: 1. How can you perceive your environment? 2. What are the barriers that would hinder your fast recovery during your hospitalization (relate to environment)? 3. What do you think are the possible solution to solve these barriers? 4. What are the positive factor that you perceive that support your fast recovery during your hospitalization (relate to environment)?

REFERENCE LIST: Surgical Nursing 12th ed. (1997) Torrance & Serginson (Bailliere Tindall) F..H. Shah, M..D. Gandhi, V..P. Mehta, D..L. Udani, M.P. Mundra & N..N. Swadia: Nosocomial Infections in Surgical Wards.The Internet Journal of Surgery. 2010 Volume 24 Number 1

Linden J, Engberg JB. Patients opinions and experiences of ambulatory surgery: a selfcare perspective. Amb Surg 1995;3: 131-9.Pate1 NJ

http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/hospbuilt/hospenv2.htm