Orthopaedic Nurse Navigators and Total Joint Arthroplasty Preoperative Optimization

Abstract

Mental health and housing status have the potential to impact total joint arthroplasty (TJA) outcomes and are common TJA eligibility criteria that prevent patients from receiving surgery. Our aim was to formulate recommendations for how nurse navigators can assist patients with managing mental health and housing concerns. Through discussions with nurse navigators and a literature search across two databases, we gathered information regarding the optimization of mental health and housing status among TJA patients. We observed a lack of standardized protocols for addressing these concerns and literature supporting an increased focus on mental health and housing status, indicating the potential for greater nurse navigator involvement in developing and implementing protocols. We recommend nurse navigators use screening tools to identify mental health and housing concerns and offer the suggested resources to support patients in an effort to improve postoperative outcomes and decrease surgical risks.