Applied Nursing Research
Volume 19, Issue 4 , Pages 204-211 , November 2006

Observations and vital signs: ritual or vital for the monitoring of postoperative patients?

  • Kathryn Zeitz, Dip App Sci, BN, Grad Dip Ed, MN, PhD, FRCNA, OStJ

      Affiliations

    • Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Tce, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +61 8 8222 2234; fax: +61 8 8294 5560.
    • ,
  • Helen McCutcheon, RN, RM, BA, MPH, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Clinical Nursing, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia

Received 15 September 2004 ,Accepted 6 September 2005.

References 

  1. Allen G, Byrne M, King C, Steelman V, Weemering ML, Beyea S. Evidence-based practice FAQs. The Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses. Available at http://www.aorn.org/research/ebpfaqs.htm2002;(accessed 27/08/02)
  2. Beyea S. Why should perioperative RNs care about evidence-based practice?. AORN Journal. 2000;72(i1):109
  3. Botti M, Hunt J. The routine of post anesthetic observations. Contemporary Nurse. 1994;3(2 June):52–57
  4. Botti M, Williamson B, Steen K. Coronary angiography observations: Evidence-based or ritualistic practice?. Heart & Lung: The Journal of Acute and Critical Care. 2001;30(2):138–145
  5. Burroughs J, Hoffbrand BI. A critical look at nursing observations. Postgraduate Medical Journal. 1990;66(775):370–372
  6. Centre for Applied Nursing Research . Clinical observations for surgical patients—What frequency of post-operative observations are necessary to ensure safe recovery of adult surgical patients. Liverpool, NSW: Centre for Applied Nursing Research; 1998;
  7. Davis MJ, Nomura LA. Vital signs of class I surgical patients. Western Journal of Nursing Research. 1990;12(1 February):28–37
  8. Evans D, Hodgkinson B, Berry J. Vital signs: A systematic review. Adelaide: The Joanna Briggs Institute for Evidence Based Nursing and Midwifery; 1999;
  9. Fitzpatrick JM, While AE, Roberts JD. Operationalisation of an observation instrument to explore nurse performance. International Journal Nursing Studies. 1996;33(4):349–360
  10. Hanney B. Post-operative observations. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 1992;1(4):174
  11. Leinonen T, Leino-Kilpi H. Research in peri-operative nursing care. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 1999;8(2):123–138
  12. Long L, Dahl D, Hogan Miller E, Cassibo L. Evidence-based approach to patient care: An analysis of post-PACU vital sign frequency and complications. In: Paper presented at The University of Iowa College of Nursing Gerontological Nursing Interventions Research Center, Abstract, April 23. 1998;
  13. Pincombe J, Brown M, Ballantyne A, Thorne D, McCutcheon H. No time for dying: Care of patients dying in the acute general hospital setting. Adelaide, SA, Australia: University of South Australia; 2000;
  14. Schumacher S. Monitoring vital signs to identify postoperative complications. MEDSURG Nursing. 1995;4(2 April):142–145
  15. Toms E. Vital observations. Nursing Times. 1993;89(51):32–34
  16. Zeitz K. Nursing observations during the first 24 hours after a surgical procedure: What do we do?. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2004;14(3):334–344
  17. Zeitz K, McCutcheon H. Policies that drive the nursing practice of post-operative observations. International Journal Nursing Studies. 2002;39:831–839
  18. Zeitz K, McCutcheon H. EBP—To be or not to be, this is the question!. International Journal of Nursing Practice. 2003;9(5):272–279
  19. Zeitz K, McCutcheon H, Albrecht A. Postoperative complications in the first 24 hours: A general surgery audit. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2004;46(6):633–640

PII: S0897-1897(06)00087-5

doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2005.09.005

Applied Nursing Research
Volume 19, Issue 4 , Pages 204-211 , November 2006

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