Patients Scheduled for General Anesthesia: Betwixt and Between Worrying Thoughts and Keeping Focus

Purpose: The purpose of the research was to explore the interaction between cancer patients and Registered Nurse Anesthetists (RNAs) before general anesthesia from the patients' perspective. Design: Focused ethnography was used as method for data collection. Methods: Surgical patients' interactions with the RNAs were observed during preparations for general anesthesia and further explored during an interview on the first or second postoperative day. Methodological concepts of Grounded Theory structured the analysis. Findings: The core variable describes patients being in an intermediate position, not knowing the outcome of the anesthetic and surgical procedures. The core variable is elaborated by subcore variables describing patients' coping strategies and need for care. Conclusions: Patients' experiences of being cared for and supported in their coping strategies by RNAs will substantiate patients' predisposed confidence in the RNA and the anesthetic procedure. This will support patients in keeping focus in a highly technological environment.