Introduktion: Trycksår är en vårdskada som kan uppstå i samband med kirurgiska ingrepp. Det medför ett stort lidande för patienten men även en kostnad för samhället. Alla patienter som opereras har en ökad risk att utveckla trycksår på grund av unika riskfaktorer som en operation medför. Därför har operationsteamet en särskild utmaning i att förebygga denna vårdskada.   Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka vilka trycksårspreventiva åtgärder som operationsteamet använder.   Metod: Studien genomfördes som en observationsstudie med kvantitativ ansats. Operationsteam vid ett medelstort sjukhus i södra Sverige observerades.  Ett observationsprotokoll konstruerades för att fånga de åtgärder som operationsteamet använde. Totalt genomfördes 20 observationer.   Resultat: Operationsteamet tryckavlastade patientens hälar och bakhuvud. Patienten värmdes intraoperativt, personalen såg till att patienten inte låg med benen i kors eller låg på varmt underlag och anpassade  operationsbordet efter patientens behov. Flera möjliga trycksårsförebyggande metoder genomfördes inte alls eller i liten utsträckning. Operationsteamet repositionerade inte patienten varannan timme, instrument, personal och utrustning tilläts trycka på patienten och material fanns mellan patienten och den tryckavlastande madrassen.   Konklusion: Operationsteamet utnyttjade trycksårspreventiva åtgärder för att förhindra trycksår hos patienten. Dock fanns ett flertal trycksårsförebyggande åtgärder som sällan användes eller inte alls. / Introduction: Pressure ulcers are a common health problem that can be a complication in surgical procedures. It means a great suffering for the patient, but also a cost to society. The surgical team has a special challenge to prevent pressure ulcers that occur in the operating room. It´s because all patients who undergo surgery have an increased risk of developing pressure ulcers because of the unique risk factors that an operation means for the patient.   Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the methods that the surgical team use to prevent pressure ulcer in patients during surgery.   Method: The study was conducted as an observational study with quantitative approach. The study included 20 observations of surcial teams on a hospital in south Sweden. An observation protocol was created to capture the preventive methods the surgical team used.   Results: The surgical team depressurized the patients heels and occiput with pillows. The surgical team was warming the patient intraoperatively, made sure that the patient was not lying with legs crossed or laid on a warm surface. The staff adjusted the operating table to the patient's needs. Several possible methods to prevent pressure ulcers that was not used or rarely used, was also observed. The surgical team did not reposition the patient every two hours, equipment and staff were allowed to press against the patient and layers of material laid between the patient and the pressure ulcer preventing mattress.   Conclusion: The surgical team used pressure ulcer preventive methods to decrease the risks of pressure ulcer in the patients. However, there were a number of pressure ulcers prevention methods that were rarely used.

Bakgrund: År 2015 infördes Patientlagen (SFS 2014:821) som slår fast att hälso- och sjukvården ska ge patienterna möjlighet att bli delaktiga i sin vård. Studier visar att patientdelaktighet kan förbättra kvaliteten på vården och har en betydelsefull del i att uppnå en säker vård för patienterna. På kirurgisk vårdavdelning inkommer patienter dygnet runt och är beroende av sjuksköterskan för att göras delaktiga i sin vård. Syfte: Att beskriva hur patienter som skrivs in akut upplever delaktighet gällande information och planering i samband med inskrivning av sjuksköterska på kirurgisk vårdavdelning. Metod: Kvalitativ studie med semistrukturerade intervjuer (15 deltagare). Datan analyserades med latent kvalitativ innehållsanalys enligt Graneheim och Lundman (2004). Huvudresultat: Patienter upplevde att det var viktigt att få information om sin vård och planering vid inskrivning på kirurgisk vårdavdelning. Både positiva och negativa upplevelser vid inskrivningen framkom och orsaken till detta grundades i sjuksköterskans bemötande. Vårdrelationen var viktig för att känna sig trygg i en utsatt situation och var förutsättning för att uppleva delaktighet. Patienterna berättade att delaktighet vid inskrivningen var att bli lyssnad på och att få en individuellt anpassad information. Slutsats: Patientdelaktighet vid inskrivning på kirurgisk vårdavdelning förutsätter att sjuksköterskan bjuder in patienten till delaktighet samt ger information på ett individanpassat sätt. Delaktighet är viktigt för att minska fel i vården, bedriva en lagstadgad vård och för tryggheten hos patienterna. För att klara lagkraven på vården behöver både patienter och vårdpersonal utbildning inom ämnet för att skapa en gemensam syn på vad delaktighet i vården innebär. / Background: In 2015 a new patient-law was launched in Sweden. It states that  healthcare should give the patients possibility to participate in their own care. Studies have shown that patient participation can improve the quality of care and reduce adverse events in healthcare. In surgical wards patients are admitted every hour of the day and they are dependent on the registered nurse to get involved in their care. Aim: To describe how patients admitted from the emergency department experience their participation during the enrollment with the nurse in the surgical ward with a specific focus on information and planning of the care. Methods: A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews (n=15 participants). Data was analysed with content analysis according to Granheim and Lundman (2004). Results: The study showed that during the enrollment at the surgical ward patients experienced information about the care and the plan as important. Both positive and negative experiences during the enrollment were shown in the result. The reason was based on the nurses caring or uncaring relationship with the patient. The nurse-patient relationship was important for the patient to feel safe in an exposed situation and was a prerequiesite for participation. Patients talked about participation at the enrollment and pointed out that being listened to and personalized information as the most important. Conclusion: Patient participation at enrollment at the surgical ward requires the nurse to invite the patient to take part and gives information in a personalized manner. Participation is important to reduce errors in care, carry on a statutory care and to the safety for patients.  To manage the requirements of the patientlaw, both patients and staff needs education about the subject to create a mutual vision of what participation in care is.

Thesis (MScPhysio (Physiotherapy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Study Aim: To describe the profile and selected outcomes of CABG patients admitted in the Cape metropolitan area. Design: A prospective descriptive study design with a multicentre observational approach was followed. Method: All patients undergoing isolated CABG surgery, whether elective or emergency, during a three-month period (15 August–15 November 2005) were included in the study. Demographic data, pre-operative medical status, intra-operative, as well as post-operative information were collected using a self-designed structured initial assessment form (SIA). Means and standard deviations were calculated where applicable. Relationships between different variables were analyzed by means of: ANOVA, correlations, linear and logistic regressions. Where it appeared that the ANOVA assumptions were violated, non-parametric bootstrap techniques were employed. Results: Two hundred and forty five patients were admitted to the seven hospitals which provide CABG surgery in the Cape metropolitan area in the allotted period. The profile of patients admitted to private and state institutions were similar. The mean age of the sample was 60 (±10). The mean LOS of the total cohort was 12 (±5.5) days, with patients in the state hospitals staying longer 13.4 days (± 7.1). Patients who were older than 60 were twice as likely to have a LOS >12days (odds ratio = 2.49; 95% confidence interval = 1.33 to 4.65). The development of a pleural effusion or pneumothorax was associated with an increased LOS (p<0.01). At least one PPC was reported in 65% of the population. A mortality rate of only 3% was reported. Conclusion: Patients in this cohort were younger than in developed countries. An age greater than 60 years was a predictor of an LOS >12days in the current cohort. Patients were most likely to develop a PPC on day three after CABG surgery. Physiotherapeutic intervention, if any, would be well aimed at those patients older than 60 years of age. Screening of patients in the first three post-operative days for the development of PPCs is also advised.

OBJECTIVE: Hospital systems and regulating agencies enforce strict guidelines barring personal items from entering the operating room (OR) - touting surgical site infections (SSIs) and patient safety as the rationale. We sought to determine whether or not evidence supporting this recommendation exists by reviewing available literature. BACKGROUND DATA: Rules and guidelines that are not evidence based may lead to increased hospital expenses and limitations on healthcare provider autonomy. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CINAHL were searched in order to find articles that correlated personal items in the OR to documented SSIs. Articles that satisfied the following criteria were included: (1) studies looking at personal items in the OR, such as handbags, purses, badges, pagers, backpacks, jewelry phones, and eyeglasses, but not just OR equipment; and (2) the primary outcome measure was infection at the surgical site. RESULTS: Seventeen articles met inclusion criteria and were evaluated. Of the 17, the majority did not determine if personal items increased risk for SSIs. Only one article examined the correlation between a personal item near the operative site and SSI, concluding that wedding rings worn in the OR had no impact on SSIs. Most studies examined colonization rates on personal items as potential infection risk; however, no personal items were causally linked to SSI in any of these studies. CONCLUSION: There is no objective evidence to suggest that personal items in the OR increase risk for SSIs.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Healthcare workers (HCWs) wear latex gloves to protect themselves and their patients against the transmission of microbial, viral and bloodborne diseases. These individuals are primarily exposed to latex via cutaneous (direct contact) and mucocutaneous (inhalation of airborne allergens on glove powder) routes. Repeated exposure leads to the formation of circulating latex-specific IgE and subsequent sensitisation with varying clinical expression. The airconditioning system of the Tygerberg Hospital (TBH) complex was investigated for the presence of aerosolised cornstarch glove powder and proteins. Dust samples were collected from 14 areas with different levels of latex glove usage. Dust samples were spectrophotometrically compared to a calibration graph of pure glove powder. The detection of starch and proteins in all the dust samples confirmed the presence of glove powder and possibly airborne latex allergens in the airconditioning ducts. As expected, the high exposure areas showed the highest concentrations of both starch and proteins. It is possible that other proteins than latex were involved, but the confirmed high level of protein contamination should be a cause for concern. Correlation between starch and protein levels was highly significant (p<0.01) in all instances. A total of 500 questionnaires were circulated for completion by HCWs from TBH. The response rate was 69.8%. After considering specific inclusion criteria, a study group of 152 individuals was compiled (28 males, 124 females). All subjects had current latex exposure and suffered from at least three pre-defined symptoms. Serum was collected from all subjects and dermal fluid from 31 subjects. Total IgE and latex specific IgE analysis were done on all serum and dermal fluid samples. Latex-specific IgE was positive (>0.35 IU/ℓ) in 23 serum and six dermal fluid samples. Skin prick tests (SPTs)for latex were done on 59 subjects with negative serum latex-specific IgE and 34 had positive results. Twelve subjects with negative latex-specific IgE and latex SPTs underwent patch tests with the European Standard Series, a piece of latex glove and glove powder in petrolatum. Three subjects had positive results to one or more of these allergens. Western blot analysis for latex was done on all positive sera and dermal fluid collected from these subjects. Western blot analysis for latex proved to be more sensitive than the capRAST, because it was able to identify specific bands in samples with negative capRAST results. All subjects showed a band for Hev b 1, which has been confirmed as a powder-bound airborne allergen. Hev b 6.01 is associated with HCWs with cutaneous symptoms and this band was recognised by 81% of the subjects. These findings confirmed that airborne and cutaneous routes are the major routes of exposure in HCWs. According to their laboratory results, subjects were divided into the following subgroups and compared statistically: Group A (serum positive, n=23), Group B (SPT positive, n=34) and Group C (negative, n=25). Group D (withdrawn, n=70) could not be used for statistical comparisons, due to incomplete results. An overall latex allergy prevalence of 38% was found. Group A differed significantly from Group B and Group C for most clinical and special investigations. Group A and B were also combined to represent all subjects with positive results (Cohort AB). The Allergy Score and Class were highly significant when Cohort AB was compared to Group C. The selection of clinical symptoms was confirmed to be relevant and work-related deterioration on any of the symptoms should bear a high index of suspicion in the evaluation of latex allergy. Numerical indices and specific symptoms showed high positive predictive values and the Allergy Score produced statistical significance in the positive subgroups when compared to the negative subgroup. Paired statistical significance was confirmed between the Allergy Score and occupational exposure (number of years, hours and pairs per week). The areas with the highest occupational latex exposure in HCWs are the face and hands. Different occupations also have different levels of exposure and two subgroups of HCWs (16 laboratory technologists and 13 theatre staff) were investigated for sebum content on different facial areas and the palms and dorsal areas of both hands. Baseline measurements were done before putting on gloves. In 21 subjects follow up measurements were done following three to four hours of occupational exposure, but before washing their hands. Baseline and follow up values were compared for all the different anatomical regions. Levels on the forehead and cheeks increased over time, while the level on the nose decreased. All hand regions decreased significantly during occupational exposure, suggesting that glove powder contributes to dryness of the skin. In conclusion, the problem posed by latex allergy will not be solved overnight and will probably remain a major occupational hazard for years to come. It is currently not possible to avoid exposure to latex, but it is imperative to institute safety measures to prevent further sensitisation in predisposed individuals and manage those already affected. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gesondheidswerkers dra lateks handskoene om hulleself en hulle pasiënte te beskerm teen die oordrag van mikrobiale, virale en bloed-gedraagde siektes. Die lateks blootstelling vind hier hoofsaaklik plaas via kutane (direkte velkontak) en mukokutane (inaseming van lug-gedraagde allergene op hanskoen poeier) roetes. Herhaalde blootstelling veroorsaak sirkulerende lateksspesifieke IgE en sensitisasie met variërende kliniese beelde. Die lugreëlingstelsel van die Tygerberg hospitaalkompleks is ondersoek vir die teenwoordigheid van handskoenpoeier (stysel) en lateks proteïene. Stofmonsters is versamel in 14 areas wat verskillende blootstellingsvlakke verteenwoordig het. Die stofmonsters is spektrofotometries vergelyk met "n kalibrasiekurwe van suiwer hanskoenpoeier. Stysel en proteïene kon in al die stofmonsters aangetoon word en het die teenwoordigheid van handskoenpoeier en moontlike luggedraagde lateks proteïene in die lugreëlingstelsel bevestig. Soos verwag kon word, het die hoogste stysel en proteïen waardes in hoë blootstellingsareas voorgekom. Hoogs beduidende statistiese korrelasies (p<0.01) tussen die stysel en proteïenvlakke kon aangedui word in alle monsters. "n Totaal van 500 vraelyste is gesirkuleer vir voltooiing deur TBH gesondheidswerkers, waarvan 69.8% voltooide vraelyste terugontvang is. Na evaluering van insluitingskriteria, is "n studiegroep van 152 individue saamgestel (28 mans, 124 vrouens). Almal het huidige lateks blootstelling en ten minste drie het vooraf gedefinieerde simptome gerapporteer. Serum is van die hele groep versamel en dermale vog van 31 proefpersone. Totale IgE en lateks-spesifieke IgE vlakke is op alle serum en dermale vog bepaal. Positiewe resultate (>0.35 IU/ℓ) is verkry in 23 serum en ses dermaIe vog monsters. Velpriktoets vir lateks is op 59 proefpersone uitgevoer en 34 daarvan het positiewe resultate opgelewer. Twaalf proefpersone met negatiewe lateks-spesifieke IgE en velpriktoets resultate het kutane plaktoetse ondergaan met die Europese Standaard Reeks, "n stukkie lateks handskoen en handskoenpoeier in petrolatum. Drie proefpersone het positiewe resultate teen een of meer van die allergene gehad. Westerse kladanalise vir lateks is op alle positiewe serum gedoen, asook die dermale vogte van hierdie proefpersone. Westerse kladanalise vir lateks blyk baie meer sensitief te wees as die capRAST, aangesien dit spesifieke bande kon identifiseer in monsters capRAST resultate. Alle monsters het "n band getoon vir Hev b 1, "n poeier-gebinde, luggedraade allergeen. Hev b 6.01 is geassosieer met gesondheidswerkers met velsimptome en hierdie band is gevind in 81% van die monsters. Hierdie resultate bevestig dat die belangrikste blootstelling aan lateks in gesondheidswerkers deur die vel en inaseming plaasvind. Proefpersone is in die volgende drie groepe verdeel volgens laboratorium resultate en statisties vergelyk: Groep A (positiewe serum, n=23), Groep B (positiewe velpriktoetse, n=34) en Groep C (negatief, n=25). Groep D (onttrek, n=70) kon nie vir betekenisvolle statistiese vergelykings aangewend word nie, as gevolg van onvolledige resultate. 'n Finale lateks allergie prevalensie van 38% is gevind. Groep A het hoogs beduidend verskil van Groep B en C vir die meeste van die kliniese en spesiale laboratoriumondersoeke. Groep A en B is gekombineer om alle proefpersone in te sluit met positiewe resultate (Kohort AB). Die Allergie Telling en Klas van Kohort AB was hoogs beduidend in vergelyking met Groep C. Die gekose simptome is bevestig as relevant en enige werksverwante verergering van simptome moet met 'n hoë mate van agterdog bejeën word in lateks allergie. Numeriese indekse en spesifieke simptome het hoë positiewe voorspellingswaardes gelewer en die Allergie Telling was hoogs beduidend in die positiewe subgroep in vergelyking met die negatiewe subgroep. Gepaarde statistiese beduidenheid is ook gevind tussen die Allergie Telling en beroepsblootstelling (jare van blootstelling, uur en paar handskoene per week). Die meeste beroepsblootstelling aan lateks in gesondheidswerkers vind plaas op die hande en gesig. Verskillende beroepe het ook verskillende blootstellingsvlakke en two subgroepe gesondheidswerkers (16 laboratorium tegnoloë en 13 teater personeel) is ondersoek vir die sebumgehalte op veskillende areas van die gesig en hande. Basislynvlakke is gemeet voordat handskoene aangetrek is en in 21 gevalle is opvolgvlakke gemeet na drie tot vier uur beroepsblootstelling, maar voor die hande gewas is. Basislyn en opvolgvlakke is met mekaar vergelyk vir al die anatomiese areas. Die voorkop en wange het 'n toename in sebumgehalte getoon, terwyl dié van die neus afgeneem het. AI die areas op die hande toon 'n hoogs beduidende afname tydens beroepsblootstelling, wat impliseer dat hanskoenpoeier moontlik bydra tot droogheid van die vel. In samevatting, die lateks allergie probleem sal nie oornag opgelos word nie en sal waarskynlik 'n belangrike beroepsrisiko bly vir die aansienlike toekoms. Totale vermyding van lateks is tans onmoontlik en daarom is dit van uiterste belang om voorsorgmaatreëls in plek te stel om verdere sensitisasie in blootgestelde individue te verhoed en die wat reeds geaffekteer is, effektief te hanteer.

Despite recent advances in surgical technique and the development of numerous therapeutic agents, the formation post surgical adhesions (PSA) continues to cause complications for many patients. In this research, we have employed a rational system to develop a novel treatment to address this clinical need. Based on an understanding of the biochemical events that lead to PSA formation, a series of targeted polymeric biomaterials was designed to interrupt the fibrin gel matrix propagation and suppress PSA formation. Using group transfer polymerization, a series of well controlled block copolymers of polyacrylic acid and poly(ethylene glycol-methacrylate) based materials was synthesized. Subsequent functionalization with the pentapeptide Cys-Arg-Glu-Lys-Ala (CREKA) was employed to target the materials to fibrin as a marker of pro-adhesive sites. While preliminary testing of the untargeted materials verified their ability to suppress non-specific protein adsorption to model surfaces, numerous in vitro tests were conducted to study the ability to inhibit fibrin gel propagation. The ability to inhibit both the rate and quantity of fibrinogen deposition to a fibrin coated surface has been demonstrated. In addition, the rate of fibrin gel propagation and the degree of cellular attachment can modulated. Taking advantage of the systematic variation in structure facilitated by the robust synthetic methodology employed, statistical analysis was used to elucidate the structureproperty relationships governing the performance of these materials. The most important factors that lead to enhanced performance in in vitro tests are the length of PEG chain and number of peptide units conjugated to the polymer: increasing PEG chain length and increasing the number of peptides conjugated to the polymer both improve performance in all tests. The synthetic methods that have been developed, in conjunction with the experimental results, will be used to direct future studies, including cytotoxicity and animal studies.

Approximately 65% of all surgeries are conducted in the outpatient surgery setting involving more than 35 million patients. Thirty-five to fifty percent of these outpatients will experience post discharge nausea and vomiting (PDNV), nausea and vomiting that occurs after discharge from the health care facility after surgery. A dearth of literature details the problems associated with nausea and vomiting experienced by patients after discharge home from outpatient surgery. The purposes of this dissertation were to (1) review the current knowledge in the area of post discharge nausea and vomiting; (2) present results of an integrative review of the research literature to determine best evidence for prevention of PDNV in adults or rescue of patients who suffer from post discharge nausea and vomiting (PDNV); (3) present a critical review and analysis of measurement of nausea and vomiting after discharge from outpatient surgery, and (4) present findings of a prospective research study. The purposes of the research study were to: 1) describe the incidence and severity of PDNV over a 7-day period in a sample of adult surgical patients undergoing outpatient surgeries under general anesthesia, 2) describe the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic modalities of care used by patients with PDNV to manage it, 3) compare the incidence and severity of PDNV between those who do and do not use pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic modalities, and 4) determine outcomes associated with PDNV. This study was part of a multi-site study that had as a primary objective development of a simplified risk model for predicting patients most likely to suffer PDNV. In this research study we described the incidence and severity of PDNV in adult outpatients after ambulatory surgery, described the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic modalities of care used by patients with PDNV to manage it, compared the incidence and severity of PDNV between those who do and do not use pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic modalities, and determined outcomes associated with PDNV.

No description available.

Höft- och knäprotesoperationer är idag en vanlig operation vid artros i höft- och knäled. Trotsminutiösa infektionsförebyggande förberedelser inför operationen drabbas ändå en delpatienter av postoperativa infektioner. Vid ortopedisk proteskirurgi är postoperativainfektioner ett direkt hot mot den nya inopererade leden och kan leda till långabehandlingstider som påverkar patientens livskvalitet under lång tid. Syftet med studien var att utforska patienters möjlighet till delaktighet i tidig upptäckt avpostoperativ infektion utifrån given information vid operation för höft- eller knäprotes. Semi-strukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med tio patienter med diagnostiserad postoperativinfektion efter höft- eller knäprotesoperation. Transkriberade intervjuer analyserades medinnehållsanalys. Journaler granskades för att beskriva patientens tidigare sjukdomar. Resultatet visade att första tecknen på infektion kan beskrivas med temat: Vad är normalt ochvad är inte normalt. Två kategorier beskriver patienternas Möjlighet till delaktighet ochHinder till delaktighet i det infektionsförebyggande arbete före, under och efter operation. Det handlade om hur patienten hade förstått eller inte förstått given information, vilketkategoriserades som subkategorier. Personcentrerad vård kan vara ett redskap för att stärka patienternas förutsättningar tilldelaktighet och ökar möjligheterna för att förhindra att vårdskador så som postoperativainfektioner uppstår. / Surgery with prosthetic joint replacement of the hip and knee in patients with osteoarthritis is a common procedure. Despite meticulous preparation prior to surgery, surgical site infections develop in some patients. A surgical site infection is a direct threat to the new implanted joint and can lead to long treatments that affect quality of life over time. The aim of this study was to explore patients´ participation in early detection of a surgical site infection based on the information given in conjunction to surgery for hip and knee replacement. Semi structured interviews were conducted with ten patients diagnosed with surgical site infection after hip or knee replacement surgery. Transcribed interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Medical records were reviewed to describe the patients´ comorbidity. The result showed that the first signs of infection can be described with the theme; What is normal and what is not normal? Two categories describe patients´ Possibility of participation and Barriers to participation in infection prevention before and after surgery. It was all about How the patient had understood or not understood the given information which was categorized as subcategories. Person-centered care can be a tool that enables patients´ possibilities to participate in their care and increases the possibilities to prevent adverse events such as surgical site infections.

ABSTRACT Background: An acquired brain injury can be classified as either a primary brain injury or a secondary brain injury. A secondary brain injury can also be caused by secondary clinical insults, such as epileptic seizures. To date, there have been no studies conducted on whether nursing interventions, such as bathing, oral care and suctioning the endotracheal tube, can cause epileptic seizures when caring for neurosurgical patients in the intensive care ward. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore whether nursing interventions can cause changes in a neurosurgical intensive care ward patient’s EEG pattern. Methods: Qualitative prospective observational study, using descriptive design (non-experimental). There was a total of 12 patients included in this study, all from a neurointensive care ward in the middle of Sweden. The patients were observed using continuous EEG monitoring with video recording all nursing interventions during 48 hours for each patient. The nursing interventions that were conducted were marked and categorised on a data log. The EEG was then analysed by a neurophysiologist, the results of which were also documented on the data log. Results: The total number of nursing interventions that have been observed for all 12 patients are 1170. Of these, 55 percent resulted in a change in the EEG pattern. The changes in an EEG pattern were categorized into one of four categories. The category with the largest percentage of documented changes was muscle artifact. The nursing interventions that resulted in the highest percentage of EEG pattern changes were – Everything at once, Oral care, Hygiene, Change of position and Suctioning the endotracheal tube. A correlation between the duration of nursing interventions and the occurrence of EEG pattern changes was detected. The longer the nursing intervention lasted the more EEG changes were generated. Conclusion: The results of the study show that nursing-related EEG changes can occur. This suggests that nursing interventions may be stressful for the neurosurgical intensive care patient. It is possible that this stress could be palliated by raising awareness among nursing staff of the importance of using sedatives and analgesics before performing nursing interventions.