Title : Standardizing the care for bariatric patients using the clinical pathway
Abstract:
Purpose: Bariatric surgery demands a multi-disciplinary approach and recovery scheme. A team was formed to address aspects of care, including perioperative, nursing, pharmacy, and nutrition. A standardized bariatric clinical pathway improves nurses’ knowledge, confidence, and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Relevance/Significance: Bariatric surgery has garnered attention as the most effective method for substantial weight loss and managing diabetes. There has been no standardized clinical pathway for bariatric patients nationally and even in this academic teaching hospital. Intergenerational nurses and providers’ preferences contribute to the nurses’ knowledge gaps and confidence in providing care to bariatrics. Does implementing a clinical pathway improve nurses’ knowledge and confidence in caring for bariatric patients?
Strategy/Implementation/Methods: The project utilized the Plan, Do, Check, and Act methodology. A pre-survey using the Likert style questions, most likely, somewhat likely, and not likely, was administered on paper and online format to identify nurses’ knowledge gaps and confidence in caring for bariatric patients. A descriptive analysis determined a lack of knowledge of bariatric surgery, education on medications, and a lack of nurses’ confidence in bariatric care. A multidisciplinary team was formed to discuss all aspects of bariatric care and the clinical pathway. A total of 27 nurses attended the education on bariatric care and used the clinical pathway in the acute care unit for three months.
Evaluation/Outcomes/Results: After three months of using the clinical pathway, a post-survey was compared using descriptive analysis to determine if the results positively impacted the nurses' knowledge and confidence. A total of 27 nurses participated in the study, and all were confident in providing medication education (100%). Nurses' knowledge about care in all phases of bariatric surgery improved by 40%, respectively. The survey results show significantly high ratings in the nurses' knowledge and confidence in caring for bariatric patients after education and using the clinical pathway. The bariatric clinical pathway with a multidisciplinary team approach improved nurses' knowledge and confidence in bariatric care.
Conclusions/Implications for Nursing Practice: Nurses lack of knowledge and confidence in caring for bariatric patient was identified. Descriptive analysis of data led to multidisciplinary team collaboration and process improvement. Standardized bariatric surgery clinical pathway has improved nursing practice and is essential in bariatric care.
