Chapter 6: Patient and Family Education

Question 1

Surgical patient assessment should be based on critical activities that the patient will be expected to accomplish before, during, and immediately after surgery. List and explain those critical activities.

Answer 1

Pain control - take pain meds at the times prescribed
Wound care/infection prevention activities - pre op shower with CHG
Mobility - encouraged to sit up/walk as directed by RN
Deep breathing and coughing

Question 2

What would you say to your patient to reassure them there are reasons for asking the same questions multiple times?

Answer 2

Incidences of error are reduced with repeated verification

It prevents the incidence of error due to failure to ID the correct patient, surgical site or procedure