A Project to Improve Post-Operative Care for Patients Undergone Sex Reassignment Surgery

Yang, Chi-Hsuan Asphodel

Monday, 31 October 2011

Tzu-Tsui Tsao, RN, BSN
Department of Nursing, Lin Shin Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
Chi-Hsuan Asphodel Yang, PhD, RN
College of Nursing, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan

Learning Objective 1: discuss nursing care for patients undergone sex reassignment surgery.

Learning Objective 2: discuss strategies in implementing best evidence in nursing practice.

Sex reassignment surgery (SRS) is an effective intervention for the patient with gender dysphoria; it poses as a challenge for nurses who provide wound care after the surgery. As with any surgery, the quality of care provided before, during, and after SRS has a significant impact on patient outcomes. Although numerous articles have discussed the post SRS care provided by physician, there is scarce literature focused on post SRS nursing care. This project was proposed to set up a standard procedure for post one-step SRS wound care to increase the efficiency of wound care and satisfaction of patients.

A task team consisted of staff nurses, one nurse practitioner, and surgeons, was formed. The team conducted a root cause analysis to determine challenges and problem areas in providing post SRS wound care. Major complaints of patients on would care were also identified. Possible interventions were first identified after reviews of literatures and later, team member discussed and decided feasible interventions. Standards of SRS wound care were developed. Five strategies were used to implement the project, including (a) procedure flow charts, (b) reminder cards, (c) a skill evaluation form, (d) in-service education program, and (e) continuous analysis of patient’s complains.

As a result, the efficiency of SRS would care was improved. Nurses were able to provide better quality would care in a shorter time. In addition, nurses were less frustrated with the task of wound care. Hence, the patient reported increased satisfaction in SRS would care.

Using evidence-based approaches to set up standard procedures for SRS would care, we were able to increase the efficiency of nursing care and we can provide more quality care to patients. This project is an example of evidence-based nursing and may serve as a reference for other nursing professionals in providing SRS would care.

See more of: Poster Session II
See more of: Oral Paper & Poster: Evidence-Based Practice Contest