Standards of Professional Performance for Perioperative Nursing

Standard I: Quality of Care

The perioperative nurse systematically evaluates the quality and appropriateness of nursing practice in laser medicine and surgery.

Criteria:

1. The perioperative nurse participates in quality of care activities as appropriate to the individual's position, education, and practice environment.  Such activities may include:
   1. identifying and assigning responsibility for monitoring and evaluation activities;
   2. delineating the scope of patient care activities or services;
   3. identifying aspects of care;
   4. developing quality indicators for each identified aspect of care;
   5. establishing thresholds for evaluation of the quality indicators;
   6. collecting data related to the aspects of care and indicators;
   7. evaluating care based on the cumulative data collected;
   8. taking actions to improve care or services;
   9. assessing the effectiveness of the action(s) taken and documenting the outcomes; and
   10. communicating data organization-wide.
2. Knowledge gained via the quality assessment and improvement process is used to initiate change in perioperative nursing practice in laser medicine and surgery.

Standard II: Performance Appraisal

The perioperative nurse evaluates his or her practice in context with professional practice standards and relevant statutes and regulations.

Interpretive statement: Performance appraisal is a process that includes defining and evaluating professional practice behaviors.

Criteria:

1. The perioperative nurse
   1. Identifies the behaviors that support the level of performance desired within the role(s) of perioperative nursing practice in laser medicine and surgery;
   2. Assesses perioperative practice behaviors in laser medicine and surgery on a regular basis, seeking constructive comments;
   3. Identifies areas for personal and professional development;
   4. Takes action to achieve goals identified during performance appraisal;
   5. Periodically monitors and evaluates the progress of goal achievement; and
   6. Participates in peer review when appropriate. 

Standard III: Education

The perioperative nurse acquires and maintains current knowledge in nursing practice in laser medicine and surgery.

Criteria:

1. The perioperative nurse
   1. Participates in ongoing educational activities related to clinical knowledge and professional issues of laser medicine and surgery;
   2. Has primary responsibility for seeking experiences to maintain clinical skills in laser medicine and surgery; and
   3. Identifies learning needs based on performance behaviors and seeks knowledge and skills appropriate for practice in laser medicine and surgery. 

Standard IV: Collegiality

The perioperative nurse contributes to the professional growth of peers, colleagues, and others.

Criteria:

1. The perioperative nurse
   1. Shares knowledge and skills about laser medicine and surgery with colleagues and others through in-services, seminars, preceptoring, mentoring, role modeling, publishing, consulting, problem-solving, and other methods;
   2. Provides peers with constructive comments regarding lasers in medicine and surgery;
   3. Contributes to a positive environment conducive to education of novice perioperative practitioners; and
   4. Acts as a role model for perioperative nursing competencies and the correct implementation of policies, procedures, and protocols.   

Standard V: Ethics

The perioperative nurse's decisions and actions on behalf of patients are determined in an ethical manner. 

Criteria:

1. The perioperative nurse acts as a patient advocate and is guided by ANA's Code for Nurses.
2. Patient confidentiality is maintained.
3. Perioperative care is delivered in a nonjudgmental and nondiscriminatory manner that is sensitive to cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity.
4. Care is delivered in a manner that preserves and protects patient autonomy, dignity, and rights.
5. The perioperative nurse uses available resources to help formulate ethical decisions. 

Standard VI: Collaboration

The perioperative nurse collaborates with the patient, significant others, health care providers, and others in providing care.

Criteria:

1. The perioperative nurse:
   1. Communicates pertinent information relative to perioperative care involving laser technology;
   2. Consults with health care providers and others; and
   3. Make referrals, including provisions for continuity of care, as needed. 

Standard VII: Research

The perioperative nurse uses research findings in laser medicine and surgery practice. 

Criteria:

1. The perioperative nurse uses interventions substantiated by research as appropriate to the individual's position, education, and surgical setting.
2. Perioperative nurses participate in laser medicine and surgery research by involvement in one or more of the following activities:
   1. Identifying clinical problems;
   2. participating in data collection;
   3. sharing research activities with others;
   4. conducting research;
   5. reading and reviewing research for application in surgical practice;
   6. participating on a research committee; and
   7. using knowledge gained through research findings to initiate change.

Standard VIII:  Resource Utilization

The perioperative nurse considers factors related to safety, effectiveness, efficiency, environmental concerns, and cost in planning and delivering patient care in laser medicine and surgery.

Criteria

1. The perioperative nurse
   1. evaluates factors related to safety, effectiveness, efficiency, environmental concerns, and cost when two or more practice options would result in the same expected outcome;
   2. assigns tasks or delegates care based on the needs of the patient and the knowledge and skill of the provider selected; and
   3. assists the patient or significant others in identifying appropriate services available to address perioperative patient needs involving laser medicine and surgery.