The impact of surgery on body image.

Surgery has an impact on the patient's view of himself and his body. It is within the professional nurse's realm to skillfully assess, make a nursing diagnosis, plan, and follow through on findings of body image assessment. Operating room nurses can expand their roles by contributing to this dimension of care. Because of their close contact with the patient, they are in an ideal situation to attend to this patient need. O.R. nurses need not be "little psychiatrists" in order to do this--only caring, intelligent, resourceful persons who use the nursing process and truly place the patient's welfare above all else.