Immediate Pre-Operative

Question 1

What should be done when preparing for a procedure in terms of medications and vital signs?

Answer 1

• O2 Sat. monitor for finger

- Pre-Op Meds

Question 2

What should be done when preparing for a procedure in terms of everything else EXCEPT medication and vital signs?

Answer 2

• Make sure all ORDERS are carried out (prep, NPO, ect.)
• Records complete (signed consent form and documentation)
• Valuables locked up
• Prosthesis removed
• –> except hearing aid
• Void (time and volume)

Question 3

What is the important thing to remember when delegating to unlicensed personnel like an aide?

Answer 3

• You can delegate tasks but not the responsibility

- Baseline assessment is a head to toe assessment and unlicensed personnel can’t do this

Question 4

What is the rules of thumb when delegating?

Answer 4

1. anything requiring critical thinking cannot be delegated (assessment, diagnosis)
2. Anything that may change or add to a nursing diagnosis cannot be delegated.
   You can delegate concrete tasks but not the decisions that flow from those tasks.

Question 5

What are some pre-op meds should you give and what do they do? What are some examples?

Answer 5

• Sedatives and Amnesiacs: Helps patients get a good sleep and reduces anxiety
  (Benzodiazepines & Barbituates)
• Anticholinergics: reduce oral and respiratory secretions, prevent bradycardia
• Opioids (Narcotics): reduce anesthesia requirements and pain of preparation
• Antiemetics: reduce N/V
• Antibiotics Prophylaxis: timed for peak bacteremia

Question 6

What is the preoperative conclusions (everything that needs to be done before an operation)?

Answer 6

1. Pre-Op Teaching
2. Informed Consent
3. Psychological Preparation
4. Physical Preparation (baseline)- NPO by midnight, Sleeping Pill
5. Immediate preoperative nursing interventions