Facilitating Students' Competence in Caring for the Bariatric Surgical Patient: The Case Study Approach

Abstract

Bariatric surgery is a safe and highly effective option for treating the disease of morbid obesity. Given that the numbers of morbidly obese adults exceed one in twenty in the United States, bariatric surgery is no longer an uncommon surgical procedure and will likely continue to become increasingly common. Therefore, it is imperative that nursing programs prepare prelicensure students to deliver high-quality, competent care to bariatric surgical patients. These patients have complex collaborative care needs that can be best taught utilizing an active learning format, such as the case study format. This article presents an exemplar case study that can be used to teach nursing students about the unique needs of the bariatric surgical patient. The pre-operative, peri-operative, post-operative, and continuing care needs of the bariatric surgical patient are addressed using a nursing process framework and critical thinking exercises.

Competencies and skills to enable effective care of severely obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery across a multi-disciplinary healthcare perspective: a systematic review

“…For example, Ide, Fitzgerald-O'Shea and Lautz 20 provided a descriptive account of the development of a service with a small section on MDT competencies. However, there were papers concentrating specifically on preparation of a staff group for bariatric surgery care, for example, Marzen-Groller and Cheever 21 considered student nurse preparation, and Huseman 22 discussed competencies for nurses in the bariatric surgery team. No paper relevant to the competencies a dietitian may require was identified in the search.…”

“…Papers in the review advocate exploration of personal feelings about obesity as part of study to encourage moving beyond biases. 21 Increasing understanding of psychosocial factors commonly affecting severely obese people may also encourage positive interactions. 23 Strong leadership as a role model for good practice is currently seen as an effective way to model behaviors and facilitate competent practice.…”

Nursing care in the perioperative period for patients undergoing bariatric surgery

“…This surgery is indicated for adults with Body Mass Index ≥ 35 kg/m² with one or more significant obesity-related comorbidities. Undertaken using different techniques, bariatric surgery alters the normal digestive process, resulting in clinical and functional benefits -in particular, reduction in weight, morbidity and mortality (5) .…”