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D
edicated regional block
nurses are invaluable
when it comes to prepar-
ing patients for blocks, adminis-
tering catheters and staying on
schedule. But leadership doesn't
always see the value of this posi-
tion. If you're having trouble con-
vincing upper management or
your board of the need for a ded-
icated block nurse, try this approach. Tell leadership a good block
nurse will let you eliminate one FTE in recovery. Here's why:
• Patients who receive blocks can be discharged more quickly.
• Regional blocks reduce the need for opioids — in fact, less than 12%
of our regional block patiens receive any post-op opioids in the PACU.
• There's less post-op nausea — fewer than 3% of our patients suffer
post-op nausea in recovery.
• There's less work for your staff in recovery (nurses don't have to
run in and out to get drugs to treat the patient's pain or nausea).
If your facility doesn't want to bring in a separate block nurse, no
problem. Simply take one of your nurses out of recovery, put her in
pre-op and make her the dedicated block nurse. And if things are slow
on the block front one day, this person can help your other pre-op
nurses prepare for their various surgeries.
Gregory Hickman, MD, FASA
Andrews Institute Ambulatory Surgery Center
Gulf Breeze, Fla.
ghickman@andrewsinstitutesc.com
BLOCK BUY-IN
How to Sell a Dedicated Regional Block Nurse
• TEAM EFFORT Block nurse Rocky Bodree, RN, (right) works
the ultrasound while Dr. Gregory Hickman, MD, FASA, (left) pre-
pares to place a regional block.