Reduction and management of perioperative anxiety: facing responsibilities.

Stirling, Laura

Abstract

Patient anxiety is a normal part of the surgical patient’s ‘career’ and would be anticipated by nurses in a number of settings. Anxiety causes a number of undesirable effects which may place the patient at greater perioperative risk. Factors that mitigate against the nurse being able to devote adequate time to this important aspect of patient care will not disappear overnight and arguably, without quality psychological care, patients are being placed at greater risk.
This article considers the issue of perioperative anxiety with the aim to revise the concept and highlight the serious implications of giving it a lesser priority within patient care. Alternative strategies should be sought that might also help the patient take back some control over their own challenging situation. Practitioners must acknowledge that there is a need to investigate their current practice and that they have a responsibility to address patient anxiety effectively.

Citation

Stirling, L. (2006). Reduction and management of perioperative anxiety: facing responsibilities. British Journal of Nursing, 15, 359-361

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2006
• Deposit Date: Feb 13, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 13, 2013
• Print ISSN: 0966-0461
• Publisher: Mark Allen Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Pages: 359-361
• Keywords: Patient anxiety; perioperative care; surgery; postoperative recovery
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/5887