Pre-Op.
While reinforcing the information needed for informed consent, the Nurse realizes that the patient is confused regarding the upcoming procedure; this individual is responsible for explaining the procedure and obtaining informed consent.
Who is the Physician
**Nurses reinforce, the physician must explain.
These specialized nurse roles carry out nursing interventions in the Intraoperative phase.
Who are Scrub Nurses and Circulating Nurses
A nurse changes a dressing and notices a thick, milky, liquid discharge from a wound that she believes is an indication of infection. The nurse has observed this type of drainage
What is Purulent drainage
Complications of this form of anesthesia can be a real headache and will have patients lying down on the job.
What is Spinal Anesthesia
**Patients should lay flat on their back after use of this anesthesia.
Patients with vision-related issues can still provide this if there are accommodations in the written methodology, such as the use of brail, and the physician has fully explained the procedure.
What is informed consent
Monitoring for this condition is crucial in both the intraoperative and postop phases. Patients are at risk for this impaired regulation after prolonged exposure to the OR.
What is hypothermia
Nurses in this specialized care setting focus on the following: protecting the airway and respiratory status, LOC, TPR, O2 Sat, BP, and maintenance of the surgical area.
What is the PACU
Ventilation, hemodynamic stability, post-op pain, incision integrity, neurological status, and spontaneous voiding are priority concerns along with the management of this
What are anesthesia-related nausea and vomiting
One of the goals of preoperative nursing is well-timed education on optimal lung expansion. This includes education on splinting of the incision site, coughing and deep breathing exercises and use of this specialized device.
What is an incentive spirometer
**Preop is the best time to provide education because your patient is alert and unencumbered by anesthesia or post-operative pain.
As you prepare to enter the Intraoperative phase, the nurse must verify the patient's name and date of birth, the surgical procedure, and the surgical site and ensure this is up to date.
What is Informed Consent
To reduce the chances of contamination and postop infection, bowel surgeries, use these medications typically given the night before. This minimizes the risk of colon injury, improves visualization of the bowel, reduces the number of intestinal bacteria, and decreases the risk of contamination of the peritoneum.
What are laxatives and enemas
Reversible loss of consciousness induced by inhibiting nerve impulses within the CNS, thus effecting the whole body. Administration results in analgesia and amnesia, but beware of post-administration respiratory complications.
What is General Anesthesia
There are a host of medications that may affect the surgical experience, including opioids, sedatives, antibiotics, anticoagulants, over-the-counter, and herbal medications, among others. This medication should be stopped 10 days before surgery to allow platelet function to return to normal. It's simple; even a baby could do it!
What is Aspirin
This group of patients is often at increased risk of hypothermia during general anesthesia administration in the surgical procedure.
Who are older adults
Nurses must work with the multidisciplinary team to assess these behaviors for the post-surgical patient to ensure safe discharge planning and placement.
What are the Activities of Daily Living
General anesthesia may cause significant adverse effects in this population, including atelectasis and respiratory depression due to weakened expansion of the lungs.
Who are older adults
CBC or hemoglobin level and hematocrit, clotting studies (PT, INR, PTT). Electrolyte levels and this lab are essential to obtain during the preoperative phase, especially when we consider how anesthesia is filtered.
What is Serum Creatinine
This inherited muscle disorder is an acute and life-threatening complication resulting from certain anesthesia drugs. This manifests as a rise in CO2 levels, a decrease in O2, high calcium and potassium levels, leading to acidosis, tachycardia and cardiac dysrhythmias. If you follow this progression, you'll be burning up!
What is Malignant Hyperthermia
Chronic use of this medication group can cause delayed wound healing after a surgical procedure and, in severe cases, can lead to incisional dehiscence.
What are Corticosteroids
This medication is the drug of choice for the life-threatening complication of Malignant Hyperthermia.
What is Dantrolene Sodium
**This is a muscle relaxer and the drug of choice for this condition.
**Positive outcomes are dependent on early recognition of S/S and diagnosis.
This response to proteins in a naturally occurring substance can be a severe health concern during anesthesia. It can cause a range of reactions from mild skin irritation to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
What is Latex or Latex Allergy
**Because of the potential for severe reactions, any patient with a known latex allergy must be identifiable and reported to the anesthesiologist.
Typically used for short procedures, the nurse is responsible for monitoring the patient's respirations, pulse, and LOC with this type of anesthesia. It reduces sensory perception but allows the patient to maintain a patent airway; it is short-acting with rapid return to ADLs.
What is Conscious Sedation or Moderate Sedation
This type of catheterization is the preferred methodology if a patient has not voided within 8 hours after their procedure and is experiencing bladder distention despite non-invasive interventions.
What is straight intermittent catheterization
Nurses should assess two key areas distal to the incision site after use of regional anesthesia.
What are distal pulses and capillary refill