Peri-Operative Nursing Care and Patient Assessment Flashcards

1
Q

The setting in which a surgical procedure may be safely and effectively performed is influenced by the:

A
  • Complexity of the surgery
  • Potential complications
  • General health status of the patient
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Surgery- treatment of disease abnormalities or injury by manipulative and operative methods

A
Diagnosis
Cure
Palliation
Prevention
Exploration
Cosmetic improvement
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Types of surgery

A
  • Diagnosis (Biopsy, extent of the disease, lymph node biopsy)
  • Cure (El,imation or repair, ruptured appendix)
  • Palliation (To relieve symptoms and not cure, obstructions. E.g. to remove tumours)
  • Prevention (E.g. removal of mole)
  • Exploration (Surgical examination to determine nature and extent)
  • Cosmetic improvement (changing breast shape, eye lift)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Surgical Settings

A
  • Surgical clients enter the acute care setting in different stages of health and with different levels of preparedness
  • Emergency- unexpected urgency
  • Must be performed immediately to save a life, limb or body function
  • Urgent- be performed within 24-48 hours
  • Elective- surgery is a planned event
  • The ability to quickly establish rapport with the client and maintain a professional relationship is essential component to preoperative care
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Types of anesthetics

A
  • General- Given IV/Inhaled to make the patient unconscious
  • Unresponsive to a stimulus including pain
  • Suppress the respiratory center and disturb normal circulatory reflexes
  • Loss of protective reflexes to protect the airway (e.g. Gag, cough, swallow)
  • Regional- region of the body is anesthetized: spinal, epidural
  • Local- small area is numb
  • Conscious sedation- patient is sedate, there is some depression of awareness, patient cans till speak, respond to commands
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Preoperative nursing responsibilities

A
  • Gather data to identify risk factors and plan care to ensure patient safety throughout the surgical experience
  • Knowledge of the nature of the disorder
  • Coexisting disease processes or medical processes
  • Identify the patient’s response to the stress of the surgery
  • Potential complications, risks with the procedure
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Pre-operative stage: Nurse’s role

A
  • Identifying actual or potential problems using assessments skills and interviewing techniques
  • Validating existing info
  • Preparing the client both physically and emotionally for surgery
  • Education of the client and family/significant others relating to assuming self care, or of the provision of ongoing care for clients requiring extended observation and interventions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Psychosocial assessment

A

Situational changes

  • Support- family, spiritually, significant others
  • Impact on lifestyle

Concerns with the unknown

  • Effect of daily living
  • Depth of anxiety and fear
  • Concerns with body image
  • Past experiences
  • Knowledge deficit
  • Identify the amount and type of preoperative info the person needs to know
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Fight or flight response- stress response

A
  • Protective mechanisms that we experience when threatened, when facing harm, when stressed
  • Changes occur in the body to help the person deal with the situation effectively- hormones released
    Increases awareness
    (HR elevated, RR elevates,BP increases)
  • This is helpful but if sustained becomes damaging to the body, can result in problems that threaten recovery
  • Delay wound healing
  • Increase CVS or Respiratory issues
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Physiological factors that place the older adult at risk of surgery

A
  • Neurological - sensory losses, decreased reaction (nurse needs to orientate the patient, observe for signs of pain)
  • Pulmonary system- reduce diaphragm, rub case stiffeners , decreased lung volume
  • CVS0 degeneration in myocardium- changes in cardiac reserve
  • Renal system- reduce flow to kidneys- strict FBC, increased urine frequency, call bell to assist
  • Metabolic- lower metabolic rate, change in water volume- risk of electrolyte imbalance
  • Skin- decreases subcutaneous tissue- high risk of pressure injury
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Preparing the patient- Informed consent

A
  • Patient provided with relevant info to enable them to make a choice- informed
  • The patient must be deemed mentally competent
  • Understand the language and not be affected by medication or drugs when the info is provided
  • The consent must be given voluntarily without coercion or manipulation
  • The patient must understand the implications of consenting to something
  • Consent should include disclosure of risks
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Preoperative client education- nurse acts as a coach

A
  • Give a rationale for pre and post operative procedure, the client is better prepared to participate on care
  • Explanation and demonstration of post-operative exercise
  • Diaphgramatic breathing
  • Incentive spirometry
  • Positive expiratory pressure therapy coughing
  • Turning
  • Leg exercise
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Physical preparation

A
  • Maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance
  • NBM 4 hours prior
  • 2 hours of liquids up to 200mls
  • Reduction of surgical risk of infection (Hair removal if causing interference)
  • Bowel (induce loose and frequent stools)
  • Rest is essential for normal hearing
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Transfer to the ward with comprehensive orders

A
  • Vital signs
  • Pain control
  • Rate and type of intravenous fluid
  • Urine and gastrointestinal output
  • Other medications
  • Laboratory investigations
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Postoperative care- nursing management is directed at preventing complications so that the clients return to the highest level of functioning people

A
  • Focused body systems- to detect complications
  • The principle causes of postoperative complications are a surgical wound, the effects of prolonged immobility during surgery and recovery/rehabilitation and the influence of anesthesia and analgesics
  • Virtually any body system can be affected. The nurse must consider the interrelationship of all systems and therapies involved
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Postoperative complications

A
  • Failure in having the patient actively involved in recovery adds to the risk of complications
  • Neurological and physiological
  • Repsiraoty
  • Cardiovascular
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Genitourinary system
  • Musculoskeletal
  • Integumentary system
17
Q

ABCDEFG assessments Look, Listen and Feel

A
  • Use your eyes, ears and hands to look, listen and palpate as you follow the algorithm to assess and manage your patient
  • It helps to have a logical approach to deal with each situation
  • You are aiming to detect physiological abnormalities and possibly putting history, signs and tests together to make a diagnosis
  • Physical assessment= critical thinking
  • It involves looking at your patent, their observations and their clinical notes and history
18
Q

Circulation - Neurovascular observations

A
  • To evaluate sensory and motor function (neural) and peripheral circulation- trauma, unrelieved pressure and ischemia can cause permanent damage to muscles, nerves and vessels
  • Observations include pulses, capillary refill, skin colour and temp, sensation and motor function
  • Assessment findings of the affected extremity must be compared to those of the unaffected extremity
  • Assessment should be proximal and distal to the site of injury or surgery if not precluded by a device such as a cast or splint
  • Even subtle changes must be recognised as important and differences must be communicated to the physical promptly
19
Q

Consider and Document other facts

A
Health and holistic
ADL’s 
Mobility
Risk assessment
Mouth care
Patient education
Family conversations including any end of life discussions
Medical review attended
Investigations/procedures attended
Referrals
Discharge planning
20
Q

Nursing considerations

A
  • Maintain respiratory function
  • Maintain circulation function
  • Promoting elimination and adequate nutrition
  • Promoting urinary elimination
  • Promoting wound healing
  • Achieving rest and comfort
  • Managing /enhancing self concept
21
Q

Client expectations and discharge

A
  • Evaluate their expectations early in the postoperative stage
  • Pain relief
  • Effectiveness of intervention
  • Have the clients needs been met?
  • Discharge plans are in place
  • Care of wound site and dressings
  • Actions and side effect of medications
  • Activities allowed or prohibited
  • Activities can be resumed safely
  • Dietary Restrictions
  • Where and when to follow up care
  • Answers to any individual questions or concerns