September 2025 • Volume 18, No. #9
From the Editor
Happy almost autumn!
The other day a friend told me about her sister’s recent surgery — a 10-hour procedure involving the tongue and mouth. After a week in ICU and three weeks in the hospital, the patient came home with a feeding tube and a temporary tracheostomy.
“One interesting tip I heard that OR nurses should keep in mind with such a surgery,” my friend said, “is to French braid a patient’s hair prior to surgery. We didn’t think to do this before, and her hair was so matted afterwards that it took weeks to get the mats out and before I was able to position her on the lounge chair with her trach, to be able to wash her hair. I’m sure there are other things that can be done to make it easier on the patient postop.”
Her comment inspired us to choose the topic of pre-op and post-op comfort for this month’s newsletter. In the articles linked below you’ll find some interesting observations about the critical role comfort plays in our well-being — whether we’re well, ill, facing surgery, or recovering — as well as some specific ways to promote patient comfort. If you have additional comfort-related techniques you’d like to share, email me so we can pass them along to our readers in a future newsletter.
Our Student in the Spotlight is Dorothy Alaniz, FNP-C, of Alamogordo, NM.
And scroll down for NIFA’s favorite links.
Enjoy!
Julie Lancaster, Editor
Photo by Gstudio on Adobe Stock
Focusing on Patient Comfort
Katharine Kolcaba, RN, MSN, PhD, a nursing theorist and Associate Professor Emerita at University of Akron, developed the Comfort Theory of Nursing in the 1990s. She analyzed the concept of comfort in various contexts within human experience, found ways to describe it, then worked to improve the ways nurses can assess patients’ comfort needs, design measures to address those needs, and evaluate the results.
Photo: screenshot of Katharine Kolcaba from the YouTube video linked above
Tips for Pre-surgery Comfort
Promoting Comfort in the Operating Room for Patients Undergoing Elective Surgery
By Carla Alexandra dos Santos Pacheco, 2023
A thoughtful reflection on creating comfort — not only for the patient but also for the nurse — throughout the workday, written by a woman who has been an operating room nurse for 19 years.
Read More . . .
How Nurses Can Help Reduce Patient Anxiety
From Houston Christian University
To counter the discomfort and uncertainty many patients feel before a planned medical test or procedure, this article addresses effective communication, active listening, music, and more.
Read More . . .
Managing Pain and Improving Comfort
From Johns Hopkins
Targeted toward the patient and family members, this list addresses common-sense interventions like reducing extra noise and light, bringing a warm pack/cold pack/ice/heat, and the like.
Read More . . .
Comfort Measures
From the London Health Sciences Centre
A list of simple but powerful ways to humanize the starkness of the hospital setting and increase patient comfort.
Read More . . .
Photo: Shutterstock
Relieving Pre-surgery Anxiety for Kids
Here are tips from Michele Huff, a Denver friend with two autistic children who has some experience in this arena:
- Let them examine things like the anesthesia mask, EKG leads and pulse ox.
- Allow them to choose a scented anesthesia mask spray or an anesthesia flavor that they like.
- Offer items like noise-canceling headphones, weighted blankets or vests, fidget toys, and tactile objects to help regulate sensory input and manage anxiety.
- Offer a tablet with distracting games or stories.
Increasing Post-op Comfort
- If the patient has long hair, consider French-braiding it before the surgery.
- As the patient is awakening to answer questions and offer reassurance.
- Ensure a gentle awakening with minimal noise, temperature control and low light while monitoring the patient for smooth emergency from anesthesia.
- Manage pain proactively, watching for signs of discomfort and applying timely pain management. Non-pharmacological methods like relaxation techniques, ice packs, and proper positioning also play a role.
- Update family members about the patient’s progress and provide clear instructions; educate patients and families on how to care for the wound and change dressings correctly.
Tip #1, above, comes from Nancy LaLande, RN. The others are taken from the following articles:
Photo: Shutterstock
In The Spotlight: Dorothy Alaniz
Credentials
FNP-C
Student Status
Current student in NIFA’s RNFA program
City & State
Alamogordo, NM
Current Position
Orthopedics
Where did you get your RN degree?
I earned my nursing degree from Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Florida.
How did you come to choose perioperative nursing?
I’ve always wanted to work in the OR since I was young. Starting as a surgical technician in the Air Force gave me hands-on experience, which paved the way for me to become an operating room nurse, fulfilling my long-held passion for the OR environment.
What is one funny, scary or unique moment you’ve experienced at the table?
One scary moment at the table was during our time stationed in Alaska, where the region is prone to numerous earthquakes. We had to stay calm and keep operating on the patient, going with the flow as the ground shook. Thankfully, all the patients survived.
What is one technique or RNFA trick you’ve learned from NIFA that you will use for life?
The concept of balancing the suture during closure to ensure both ends are equal, promoting even tension and better wound closure.
How do you feel having your RNFA will impact your life/career?
Earning my RNFA certification will enhance my career by enabling me to contribute more effectively in surgery, improve patient outcomes in my advanced practice role, and better assess recovery during follow-up clinic visits.
NIFA – Office Hours
Monday-Thursday, 8:00am – 5:00pm
Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pm
Practice Resources
Here are several of the most-in-demand sites for our students, prospective students and grads:
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this newsletter are strictly those of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of NIFA. NIFA does not give any express or implied warranty as to the accuracy of statements made by our contributors and does not accept any liability for error or omission. It is the responsibility of all perioperative personnel to work within and adhere to their facility bylaws and individual scope of practice.
