Exam 1 Flashcards
An unpleasant and emotional experience with tissue damage
The most common reason for seeking health care
It is whatever the patient says it is
Also known as the 5th vital sign
–this is good for when the patient isn’t able to tell you, you can look at their vital signs – you will feel anxious and have an elevated vitals such as HR & BP
Pain
The Joint Commission Standards State that..
Pain is assessed in all patients and all patients have the right to appropriate assessment and management of pain
Define acute pain..
It is expected to have a short duration and it is usually related to injury
ex: getting a paper cut, damage has occurred, but it is short and will get better
Define chronic pain..
This pain can last a long time/happens over a long period of time, this pain lasts longer than injury, can last throughout a person’s life
Define cancer related pain..
This pain is difficult to treat, especially once its in the bone, accompanies cancer, can also be looked at as breakthrough pain
Define breakthrough pain..
This is a combination on chronic and acute pain, chronic pain with short bursts of acute pain
Pain is classified by what 2 things..
Location - chest pain
Etiology - angina (cause)
What are negative effects of acute pain on patients..
Cardiovascular system/HR, and BP increase
Decrease in respirations
Depression of immune system- vulnerable to disorders
Increase in hormones
Sleep changes and deprivation
What are negative effects of chronic pain on the patients..
Can become depressed easily
Can have increased disabilities
Can have suppression of the immune system
What are 5 factors that influence pain
Past experiences: what kinds of pain have you felt before
Anxiety: patients may be unsure what to expect from the procedure so teaching/education may alleviate anxieties, depression can fit here as well
Culture: some cultures don’t express pain while some cultures express it more than others
Age: infants will cry or withdraw from pain, toddlers/children could get fussy or grumpy from pain
Gender: boys may not want to express their pain
Best ways of assessing pain..
ASK the patient
Pain scales
Characteristics of assessing pain
PQRSTU - look in notebook
These act on CNS to inhibit activity of ascending nocioceptive pathways
Opioid analgesics (narcotics)
These decrease pain by inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase (enzyme involved in production of prostaglandin)
They also increase the risk for bleeding
NSAIDs
These block nerve conduction when applied to nerve fibers
Ex: Lidocaine
Local anesthetics
The fastest route for drug administration
And timing for drug administrations
IV - faster than oral
Although the oral route is preferred, cause its cheap, easy, and tolerated well
Meds can be given around the clock (ATC) or as a preventative approach
What are gerontologic considerations for drug administration
Elderly are going to have more side effects, because they are having more drug interactions
More chronic diseases
Need more time in between doses due to liver and kidney functions
Side effects of opioids..
Nausea and vomiting
Sedation
Constipation
Pruritis- itching
Respiratory depression
–if respirations get too low while sleeping, wake them up and if respirations come back up they’re okay
–Narcan will reverse/bring back respirations
What is tolerance
When a higher dose of the drug is needed for the same level of pain as last time, because patient has built up a tolerance to the drug
Patients with chronic pain and cancer pain often experience this
What is dependence
Physical symptoms that occur from drugs/opioids being taken away
What is addiction
When the drugs produce a psychological effect that the patient needs to take it to feel better
What is PCA
Patient Controlled Analgesic
-if the IV site looks bad that means the meds are not going in
Patients should remain flat during these because they could get headaches from standing up
Intraspinal administrations
What are the 3 phases of perioperative nursing
Preoperative - before surgery
Intraoperative - surgery to the post anesthesia care unit
Postoperative - PACU to then visit with a doctor
Actions performed during pre-admission testing
Pre surgery assessment A health history interview Patient & family teaching Pre-op orders and instructions are understood All consent and forms signed Allergy information is given Begin planning discharge
Special considerations for the elderly during the pre-op period
They have more chronic diseases
They have more sensory problems
Its harder for them to get back to normal quickly
-respiratory and cardio complications are the greatest cause of post op mortality
Special considerations for the obese during the pre-op period
They are at a high risk for infections
Risk for complications
Special considerations with ambulatory surgeries
Need to make sure that patients have a ride home
-ambulatory meaning they walked in but wheeled out
Special considerations in an emergency surgery
They go right in and hope for the best
-they don’t check labs or health histories
The patient tells you that they do not understand the surgery and ask you to explain the procedure, what do you do?
It is not your role to explain the procedure or its risks, benefits, or alternatives. You should let the surgeon know that the patient is not understanding the procedure and ask him/her to explain it again
-you are allowed to clarify things the patient asks that the surgeon said
What should you do if a patient states they have an allergy to something?
Ask what happens they have a reaction
-if the patient states that they break out in hives, have difficulty breathing, or experience angioedema (swelling under the surface of the skin, similar to hives) then the reaction is definitely an allergic one
List aspects of informed consent
Should be in writing
Should contain an explanation of the procedure
Patient should understand this procedure
Patient should not be under any sedation
Consent must be obtained by the physician
Patient signature must be witness by a staff member
Those who cannot sign informed consent
Under 18 years old Cognitively impaired Mentally ill Sedated Someone being forced, not autonomous
What are some general pre-op nursing interventions
Keep patient’s pain at a 3 or less
Show emotional support and respect
Patient safety - rails up and call lights
Antiseptic wash of the skin with betadine
No smoking at least 24 hours before surgery
No alcohol before surgery
What are the immediate pre-op nursing interventions
Administering pre-anesthetic medications
Documenting
Transporting the patient to surgery
What is the role of the circulating nurse
Advocates for the patient’s well being
Makes sure the patient has what they need
Continually assess the patient for injury
Helps to execute patient interventions
Verifies consent
What is the role of the scrub nurse
Interacting with the surgeon and providing what ever they need
Performing a surgical hand scrub
Setting up the sterile field/table
Preparing sutures, ligatures, and special equipment
What are some intraoperative complications
Nausea & vomiting - patient could start gagging, use suctioning
Malignant hyperthermia - temp/fever spike, susceptible in people with large bulky muscles, muscle rigidity (stiffness) and distortion, increased HR, assess for this prior to surgery
Hypothermia- patients temperature falls, glucose metabolism is reduced
Hypoxia- watch for respiratory complications, depression, aspiration (inhaling things, could inhale their own vomit)
Anesthesia awareness - when the patient becomes cognizant of what is going on while under anesthesia, they recall in the incident, they will have an increase in BP, HR, and movement
Anaphylaxis- shock related to an allergy
DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation)- bleeding and clotting within the vessels, you should assess for bleeding at IV sites or old puncture areas, the patient will go to ICU and probably receive fresh frozen plasma to replace the clotting factors
Adverse effects that could occur because of surgery or anesthesia
Allergic reactions or drug toxicity reactions
Cardiac dysrhythmias
CNS changes such as over or under sedation
Trauma including burns
Hypotension
Thrombosis (a clot of the circul. system: veins, ateries)
Spinal headache with an epidural
Nursing interventions for the patient while in surgery
Reduce anxiety Reduce latex exposure Prevent positioning injuries/protect patient from injury Serve as the patient advocate Monitor and manage complications
What are specific things to do to protect the patient’s safety or prevent them from injuries
"Time out" Identify the patient correctly Get informed consent Verify that a health history & physical exam were done Check the results of diagnostic tests Assess for allergies, especially latex Checking for all equipment and needs, tools, accessible blood Don't leave patient sedated
What is the nurses’s role in PACU
Perform baseline assessments and reassessments
Make sure there were no complications from surgery
Check vitals every 15 minutes
Provide patient care until patient has recovered
What should be reported during discharge or outpatient
Give instructions to the patient & responsible adult with them, patients cannot go home by themselves:
Discharge planning, teaching, and assessment
Follow up care plans
What to watch for
Prescriptions
Phone numbers
Name ways of maintaining a patent (open) airway
Oxygenation & ventilation
Head of bed at least 15 degrees up
Have them turned to the side a little bit
Vomiting? Hypoxia? Suctioning
What is looked at in a quick assessment of the patient post surgery
Cardiovascular system: look at skin color, pulses, and capillary refills
Musculoskeletal system: have them walk, sit up, and perform leg exercises (this will also help to increase circulation, prevent venous stasis, and promote respiratory functions)
Neurological systems: assess their LOC and orientation, response, do they need warm blankets?
Fluids/electrolytes: measure their I&O, make sure their IV is infusing
Gastrointestinal tract: check oral care, bowel sounds, check for distention (stomach will feel like its getting tighter or bigger) and nausea & vomiting
Skin: check the surgical site, check for abrasions, ulcers, dry intact dressings, and drains
Kidneys: check for bladder distention, make sure they are voiding at least 30 mL/hr of urine, make sure they are voiding within 6-8 hours
When relieving pain and anxiety what should you do
Check pain scale/level
Check anxiety level
Quiet, reduce noise, low light
Give pain meds (opioids IV) and check respirations after
When contents/organs actually pop out of the body
Evisceration
Opening a wound many times due to infection
Dehiscence
Anesthesia by inhalation or IV
Patients under this anesthesia are not arousable
Patients need an artificial airway
General anesthesia