Pre-op
The nurse may serve as a witness to the client's signature on this after the physician has explained the procedure, risks, benefits, & complications, before sedation is given and before surgery is performed.
What is an informed consent
This member of the surgical team remains in sterile gown and gloves and monitors sterile procedure throughout the surgery
What is the scrub nurse
The patient who is still unconscious post-op should be placed in this position
What is side-lying
This classification of medication is often given pre-operatively for its anti-anxiety and sedative effects
What is a benzodiazepine
This assessment is often done by the surgeon and should always be in a surgical patient's chart
What is a history & physical
This type of surgery alleviates symptoms but does not cure the patient's condition.
What is palliative surgery
This member of the surgical team helps to get the operating room ready for the procedure, among other duties, and is not scrubbed in
What is the circulating nurse
These are your priority assessments for any patient in post-anesthesia care
What is ABC: Airway, Breathing, Circulation Bonus: How do you assess these?
Thrombocytopenia is when this type of cell is below this number
What is platelets; 150,000 Bonus: What is a patient with thrombocytopenia at risk for?
A woman of childbearing age who reports irregular menstrual periods must have this done before any surgery
What is a pregnancy test
A patient who is having abdominal surgery should always receive teaching on this in the pre-op stage.
What is coughing and deep breathing
In this step, the patient's identification, surgical site marking, signed consent and procedure to be done are all verified
What is a time out for safety
This is the most likely cause of post-anesthesia (emergence) delirium
What is decreased oxygenation Bonus: what is another cause?
Post-op pain management often consists of a combination of two or more of these classes of medication
What is NSAID, acetaminophen and opioid
The nurse caring for a post-surgical patient must be able to assess the difference between this normal response to injury and this problem.
What is inflammation and infection Bonus: What is seen with each?
If a patient arrives for a scheduled surgery and says this, surgery will likely be cancelled (multiple options)
What is A. I don't have someone to drive me home B. I had a smoothie this morning C. I started antibiotics for a sinus infection yesterday D. I'm having a panic attack because I know I'm going to die today
A patient with this type of problem will need extra precautions in positioning for surgery
What is a musculoskeletal problem
This is a normal affect of anesthesia in the immediate post-op period but must still be addressed
What is hypothermia
These labs are monitored to assess kidney function
What is BUN and creatinine
Early ambulation helps reduce these three potential problems after surgery
What is atelectasis/pneumonia, deep vein thrombosis and gas pains and constipation
If a patient states that she drinks a liter of wine a day and takes kava and melatonin to help her sleep at night, the nurse should do this
What is notify the anesthesia care provider
This person is in charge of monitoring the patient throughout the surgery
Who is the anesthesia care provider
This is more likely to occur in obese patients but can happen with any patient and is considered a post-op emergency
What is dehiscence
Alterations in this electrolyte, both high and low, put a patient at risk for cardiac arrhythmias
What is potassium Bonus: What is the normal range?
This common surgery requires extra protocols for infection because the consequences of an infection in the surgical site are so serious
What is a joint replacement