Publications by authors named "Kathy Lopez-Bushnell"
Purpose: This study was aimed to identify potential obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in ambulatory surgical patients and create perianesthesia nursing protocols using a reliable and validated screening tool.
Design: Descriptive survey.
Methods: A nurse-initiated OSA survey was conducted in 1,118 preoperative ambulatory patients using the STOP-Bang Questionnaire to identify patients at risk for OSA.
Article Synopsis
- Over 260,000 joint replacements occur annually in the U.S., with University of New Mexico Hospital performing over 200 surgeries each year.
- Patients typically stay an average of 5.7 days post-surgery, and the total cost of these procedures ranges from $18,000 to $22,000, with a reimbursement rate of only 61%.
- Orthopaedic nurse case managers play a crucial role in improving patient outcomes during the challenging nursing care of these joint replacement patients.
Nursing research promotes quality patient care and cost reduction. Learn what barriers exist to nurses conducting research and implementing findings, and how one hospital overcame them.
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