How Can a Nurse Practitioner Improve Patient Compliance and Patient Education in a Perioperative Setting?

Introduction

Question

I am a Family Nurse Practitioner (NP) in a hospital setting. How can perioperative NPs initiate a program to improve patient compliance and pre- and postoperative teaching in the perioperative setting? Do you have any information that will help me determine whether this is within my scope of practice? Can you recommend any resources?

Response from Jane C. Rothrock, DNSc, RN, CNOR, FAAN Professor and Director, Perioperative Programs, Delaware County Community College, Media, Pennsylvania

Your question has 4 salient components: the role of the perioperative nurse practitioner (NP), the issue of patient compliance, the significance of preoperative and postoperative patient education, and your scope of practice as a Family NP. I will address each of these briefly.

Response From the Expert

Jane C. Rothrock, DNSc, RN, CNOR, FAAN Professor and Director, Perioperative Programs, Delaware County Community College, Media, Pennsylvania

Your question has 4 salient components: the role of the perioperative nurse practitioner (NP), the issue of patient compliance, the significance of preoperative and postoperative patient education, and your scope of practice as a Family NP. I will address each of these briefly.

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Cite this: How Can a Nurse Practitioner Improve Patient Compliance and Patient Education in a Perioperative Setting? - Medscape - Jan 07, 2008.