David Macpherson
Introduction
A regional anaesthetic block room for awake day surgery patients was set up with the goals of improving patient outcomes, increasing theatre efficiency, and enabling high-risk patients to undergo procedures in a day surgery setting. While these outcomes are important, the impact on nursing and theatre staff—
central to the success of these procedures—must also be considered. This study evaluates how the block room has affected nursing staff’s workload, burden of care, satisfaction, and professional growth.
Methods
A survey was conducted with nursing & theatre staff at Stobhill Hospital six months after the block room’s introduction. Key aspects of staff experience, such as post-operative pain management, discharge timings, workload, unit efficiency, and educational opportunities, were assessed using a 1-10 numeric rating scale. This scale allowed for a detailed understanding of staff perceptions and satisfaction.
Results
Nineteen staff participated in the survey. All respondents agreed the block room was superior in managing post-operative pain compared to general anaesthesia (GA). The block room received an average rating of 8.71 with respect to facilitating faster discharges and reducing the burden of post-op care, 8.72 for increasing unit efficiency, 8.0 for providing educational opportunities, and 8.28 for improving teamwork
Conclusion
The regional anaesthetic block room has significantly improved nursing staff satisfaction by reducing workload, improving discharge times, and offering new educational opportunities and professional growth.
Authors
Neil YS Tan
Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Sharon Smith
Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom
David Macpherson
Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, United Kingdom