What is Plastic Surgery Nursing?
By Stine Thestrup Hansen, RN, PhD, Postdoc in Nursing
Definition of Plastic Surgery Nursing
Plastic surgery nursing is defined by Barnes (2020) as: “Plastic surgery nursing specializes in the protection, maintenance, safety, and optimization of human bodily repair, restoration, and health before, during, and after plastic surgery procedures. This is accomplished through the nursing process, nursing diagnosis, and treatment of human response. The plastic surgery nurse collaborates, consults, and serves as a liaison and advocate for individuals, families, communities, and populations, bridging the role of the plastic surgery nurse with that of other professionals to promote optimal patient outcomes for the whole person.”(1)
Practice Settings for the Plastic Surgery Nurse
The plastic surgery nurse provides care for patients and their relatives in a variety of settings and locations including hospitals, outpatient ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery centers and private practice. Each of the settings is defined and described in the Plastic Surgery Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice manual. (1)
Patient population
The plastic surgery nurse supports treatment procedures and care for patients within a variety of settings, age groups, and populations, including neonatal, pediatric, adults, geriatric, general surgery, neurosurgery, advanced wound management, dermatology, burns, cancer, and trauma patients. (1)
Plastic Surgery Nursing Research
Nursing research contribute to the body of knowledge and enhance patient outcomes. The plastic surgery nurse collaborates with plastic surgeons to identify clinical problems and uses existing evidence to improve practice. The plastic surgery nurse continually evaluates and applies nursing research findings to promote effective and efficient care and improved outcomes. The plastic surgery nurse uses research findings to decrease practice variations, improve outcomes, and create standards of excellence for care and policies. (2)
Ethics in Plastic Surgery Nursing
Plastic surgery nurses are expected to comply with and promote the ethical ideals, model, code, and principles of the nursing profession. Code of Ethics for Nurses and Conduct for European Nursing is the framework on which plastic surgery nurses base ethical consideration and decision-making, and on which standards are based. The plastic surgery nurse is also an advocate for the patient and their relatives and provides care in a non-discriminatory and non-judgmental way. (3)
References
1. American Nurses Association. Plastic and Aesthetic Nursing – Scope and Standards of Practice. Third edit. American Nurses Association; 2020.
2. Hotta T. Core curriculum for plastic surgical nursing: Dermal fillers. 5th Editio. Bd. 28, Plastic Surgical Nursing. International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses; 2019. 131–135 s.
3. Sasso L, Stievano A, González Jurado M, Rocco G. Code of ethics and conduct for European nursing. Nurs Ethics. 2008;15(6):821–36.
