From evidence to practice – ‘person-centred care’ in the Post Anaesthesia Care Unit: A discussion paper

Introduction: Person-centred care – involving communicating effectively with patients, recognising patient individuality, using therapeutic touch, addressing patients by their chosen name and title, and promoting patient empowerment – should be a dynamic element of perioperative nursing and balance clinical responsibility with patient preferences. The aim of this paper is to stimulate discussion that may advance contemporary person-centred care in the operating suite and Post Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU). The specific terminology of ‘person-centred care’ has been used to reflect current trends and the transition away from the previously used term ‘patient-centred care’. While these terms are often interchangeable, emphasis on the uniqueness of the person is a foremost requirement of perioperative and perianaesthesia nursing, requiring a more personalised approach. Discussion: Establishing person-centred care and fostering therapeutic relationships has been shown to improve not only patient satisfaction but also patient safety. While this discussion primarily focuses on the PACU, this information is of value to all perioperative nurses as they strive to incorporate person-centred care into the entire surgical patient journey. This paper will be presented under the following themes: ‘the holistic person’, ‘integrating person-centred care into practice’, ‘working collaboratively’ and ‘future recommendations for perioperative nurses’. Conclusion: Despite robust evidence, including recommendations in the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards that support this practice, an evidence–practice gap has been noted due, in part, to a lack of formal definition and limited perioperative and multidisciplinary education. Also, as there is a paucity of research conducted on person-centred care in the PACU, it is a recommendation of this discussion paper that Australian research be conducted in the specialised patient domains of the operating suite including the PACU. Prioritising a culture of advocacy for person-centred care holds promise for further enhancing patient outcomes and generating professional satisfaction for all perioperative nurses.