Patient Positioning: Competency Assessment Module - Book Review

AORN Journal,  Feb, 2003  by Diane S. Johnson

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By Ellen V. Lord 2001, 58pp $50 paperback

This module is a valuable tool for the perioperative preceptor. It can be used to assess and document knowledge and skills of the veteran perioperative nurse and as a vehicle to instruct the new perioperative nurse. The module imparts basic knowledge and provides an overview of skills necessary for safe and effective patient positioning, patient assessment, positioning devices that can be used, recognition and management of complications, expectations, and medicolegal issues. This module can be used to document perioperative nurses' competency by way of cognitive testing and testing of psychomotor skills. A comprehensive form is included in the module for this documentation.

Although professional perioperative RNs are the intended audience, I believe it would be valuable to review this module with the entire perioperative team. At my facility, it was presented to a mixed staff of RNs, surgical technologists, physician assistants, surgeon assistants, anesthesia aides, and housekeeping personnel. Information in the module provided an excellent review of the theory behind positioning techniques.

The graphics are clear and easy to follow. The text is easy to read and current, although I found some information to be contradictory. For example, a statement suggests that placing a patient in the supine position usually requires one nursing staff member. Later the module states when moving the patient, a team member should be on the opposite side of the OR bed. A review question is based on this information, and this caused confusion. The majority of review questions are good, but several were confusing or the material was difficult to find in the module.

This module is 58 pages, so information is concise. It is worth 3.0 contact hours upon completion of the test and evaluation. A check for $25 must be submitted along with the test and evaluation. The module expires in August 2004, and nursing credit cannot be earned after this date.

This book is available from CBPN, 2170 S Parker Rd, Suite 295, Denver, CO 80231; http://www.certboard.org.

DIANE S. JOHNSON
RN, CNOR
STAFF NURSE
SOUTHWEST GENERAL MEDICAL CENTER
MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, OHIO

COPYRIGHT 2003 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group