The Benefits of Preoperative Education

As a clinical requirement for my Adult 1: Medical-Surgical course, I had the opportunity to observe a patient in the Operating Room and in the Post Anesthesia Unit of Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. The procedure that I observed was a left total knee replacement. The patient needed this surgery because she was experiencing osteoarthritis, and this surgery could alleviate her pain and discomfort. I was with the patient from the end of her stay in the pre-operative holding area to the Operating Room, and then to the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. This paper will include background inquiry, preoperative and operative

S.P. should be up out of bed post-op day 1 and wearing TED hose continuously, as well as wearing SCDs overnight in bed. Constipation prevention should e achieved by administering scheduled doses of Colace. Proper nutrition should be encouraged to include plenty of protein to ensure proper wound healing and avoid development of pressure ulcers (Lewis, Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Camera, 2011). S.P. should practice coughing and deep breathing throughout her hospital stay to avoid lung congestion and occurrence of pneumonia infection, educating the patient about smoking cessation assistance can be helpful as well.

Before a procedure begins, the nurse anesthetist will discuss with a patient any medications the patient is taking as well as any allergies or illnesses the patient may have. This must be done so anesthesia can be safely administered. Nurse anesthetists then give a patient general anesthesia to put the patient to sleep so they feel no pain during surgery or they may administer a regional

Also, by properly conducting a time-out session where the patient is provided with a standardized briefing prior to the patient is sedated in the OR could also eliminate some the sentinel or adverse events in the OR. Furthermore, follow a checklist, which not only pertains to the surgery itself, but also focuses on the other procedures involved such as admissions, anesthesia equipment, and discharge (Mulloy & Hughes 2008).

* Personnel Issues: One of the key barriers to effective interaction for the pre-op nurses is that they are not getting any information from the registrar or the surgeon related to the patients unique circumstances. There is not a communication process in place for the pre-op nurse to actively communicate with the surgeon or his office regarding a patient’s care during their day of surgery. An additional factor in this situation was the pre-op nurse documented the mother’s contact information in her notepad, but not on the

Second, the nurse commences assessment with an evaluation of patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation for any signs of inadequate oxygenation and ventilation. One of the patients’ temperature was 102 F and the physician recommended pain medication (dilaudid) and it was administered instantly. The nurse gets vital signs and compare the result with intraoperative care. The nurse chart vital signs every 5 mins for the next 15mins, every 15mins for the next hour depending on the recovery state of the patient. I also noticed that for diabetic patients, the nurse checks for blood glucose and also compare result with intraoperative care unit result. Third, the nurse assess pain although the patients receive pain medication before surgery. Fourth, the nurse assess surgical site (dressings and drainage). Fifth, the nurse assess neurologic (level of consciousness, orientation, sensory & motor status, pupil size and reaction. Finally, the nurse assess gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, intake of

In preparation of a review from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Nightingale Community Hospital will focus on improving its communication process in the operating room. The purpose of communication in the healthcare setting is to disseminate information in such a way as to create shared understanding about the patient and about what needs to be done for a positive outcome. (synergia.com) A patient is at his most vulnerable state during procedures that require sedation or anesthesia. The patient is releasing his decision making ability and safety into the control and care of the healthcare team. Therefore, effective communication on behalf of the patient is

The appropriate assessment of patients prior to surgery to identify coexisting medical problems and to plan peri-operative care is of increasing importance. The goals of peri-operative assessment are to identify important medical issues in order to optimise their treatment, inform the patient of the risks associated with surgery, and ensure care is provided in an appropriate environment secondly to identify important social issues which may have a bearing on the planned procedure and the recovery period and to familiarise the patient with the planned procedure and the hospital processes.(American Society of Anaesthesiologists)

VASNHS Surgical Specialty Outpatient department has a designated pre-operative management unit that oversees the patients undergoing surgery. The predicaments stem from various guidelines or protocol originating from numerous surgeons and clinics. At present, the pre-operative nurses abide simple pre-op instructions (NPO protocol, medications, what to bring, during the surgery, transportation, cancellation instructions) for the entire Surgical Specialty Outpatient department. Surgical procedures are being canceled due to lack of communications and cancelations of patients prior to surgery date.

During the pre-briefing, the group collectively discussed the patient’s history, presenting issues and other influences to the patient's care. As well, during this time, the group worked to identify role expectations, protocols, timelines and other presenting issues that would require consideration, including impaired circulation/post-op bleeding, mental status or hypoxemia. Decision-making in this aspect was based on the determined role and intended learning outcomes.

In 1999, expert surgical nurse authors at the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) developed a comprehensive curriculum to assist in the education and transition of nurses entering perioperative clinical specialty for the first time (Beyea, 2002). In 2007, Periop 101: A Core Curriculum (AORN, n.d.) was created which moved the instructor-based program into an online format of modules designed to assist with mastering core perioperative competencies. The program provides instruction with videos, assigned readings, and quizzes at the end of each module. The learning focuses on patient safety and the program is best utilized when combined with preceptorships and skills labs.

A focused audit will be done on all patients undergoing operative or invasive procedures for the next year. Results will be analyzed by the nurse manager and discussed at staff meetings. Evaluation of compliance will be done at the staff meetings and any recommendations for improvement will be discussed and approved at these meetings. Implementation of any recommendations will be instituted the following month. Summaries of the audit and any recommendations for improvement will be sent to the PI committee on a quarterly basis.

sedation have continuous BP, ECG, & Pox monitoring done. Nurse J. who was trained in the

During my rotation in the operating room at Community medical center, I observed the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care for a patient who underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy. I believe that an appropriate preoperative plan of care for this patient would have included a full physical exam and an interview for patient history, a pelvic exam to look over and understand the nature of the patient’s complications, blood testing including a CBC and WBC to note any signs of infection or contraindications for the procedure, and a urine test to rule out any urinary tract infections or pregnancy. It would be important to interview the patient and ask questions to determine how the patient is feeling about their procedure and to better assist with any anxiety or pain they may be dealing with preoperatively. It is important to consult with the patient well before the procedure to ensure that she knows to refrain from smoking for at least 8 weeks before the procedure because this reduces the risks of complications such as infections, issues with blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow, and respirations when under anesthesia, and promoting overall health and risks associated with smoking after the procedure. (ASAHQ) It is also important to educate the patient to consume no food or drinks after midnight the night before the scheduled procedure. (Health Communities) During my rotation I observed that the patient did indeed have labs drawn and a urine test run. Her lab

A surgical nurse is responsible for monitoring and ensuring quality healthcare for a patient following surgery. Assessment, diagnosis, planning, intervention, and outcome evaluation are inherent in the post operative nurse’s role with the aim of a successful recovery for the patient. The appropriate provision of care is integral for prevention of complications that can arise from the anaesthesia or the surgical procedure. Whilst complications are common at least half of all complications are preventable (Haynes et al., 2009). The foundations of Mrs Hilton’s nursing plan are to ensure that any post surgery complications are circumvented. My role as Mrs Hilton’s surgical nurse will involve coupling my knowledge and the professional