Perry V. Ruspantine, CRNA, APRN
ANESTHESIA ALERT
3 8
O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4
Acing the Pre-Operative Anesthesia Evaluation
The right approach can go a long way toward eliminating anxiety.
O
ne of the most important elements of anesthesia care is the
pre-operative visit between patient and provider. Yet the pre-
surgical assessment also tends to be one of the areas that we're
most lax about doing properly. Here are several points to consider
when trying to establish trust and confidence in the patient, and learn-
ing all you can about her health history.
Avoid the cookie-cutter interview.
First, be certain to identify your-
self by name and title. You'd be amazed at the number of people
who neglect this very important facet of the interview. I've overheard
many pre-op interviews performed as if they were coming from a tape
recorder in the pocket of the provider. Each patient needs to be rec-
1
EYE TO EYE Nothing calms patient nerves more than an
anesthesia provider who's sincere, interested and attentive.
