Perioperative Nursing Flashcards
It is a term used to describe the nursing care provided in the total surgical experience of the patient
PERIOPERATIVE NURSING
consists of three phase that begin and end at a particular point in the sequence of events in the surgical experience.
perioperative period
begins when the decision to proceed with surgical intervention is made and ends with the transfer of the patient onto the operating room (OR) table.
Preoperative phase
begins when the patient is transferred onto the OR table and ends with admission to the PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit)
Intraoperative phase
begins with the admission of the patient to the PACU and ends with a follow-up evaluation in the clinical setting or home
Postoperative phase
What are the surgical classifications
Diagnostic (eg, biopsy, exploratory laparotomy)
Curative (eg, excision of a tumor or an inflamed appendix)
Reparative (eg, multiple wound repair)
Reconstructive or cosmetic (eg, mammoplasty or a facelift)
Palliative (eg, to relieve pain or correct a problem-for instance, a gastrostomy tube may be inserted to compensate for the inability to swallow food)
What are the Degrees of Urgency?
Optional – Surgery is scheduled completely at the preference of the patient (eg, cosmetic surgery)
Elective – The approximate time for surgery is at the convenience of the patient; failure to have surgery is not catastrophic (eg, a superficial syst)
Required – The condition requires surgery within a few weeks (eg, eye cataract)
Urgent – The surgical problem requires attention within 24 to 48 hours (eg, cancer)
Emergency – The situation requires immediate surgical attention without delay (eg, intestinal obstruction)
It is the patient’s autonomous decision about whether to undergo a surgical procedure. It is the process of informing the patient about the surgical procedure; that is risks and possible complications of surgery and anesthesia. Consent is obtained by the surgeon. This is a legal requirement.
Informed Consent
Part of the surgical team where their main responsibilities include:
- Verifying consent
- Coordinating the team
- Ensuring cleanliness
- Proper temperature and humidity
- Lighting and safe function of equipment and the availability of supplies and materials.
Circulating Nurse
Member of the surgical team that:
- Performs surgical hand scrub
- Setting up the sterile tables
- Preparing sutures, ligatures, and special equipment (eg, laparoscope)
- Assisting the surgeon and the surgical assistants during the procedure by anticipating the instruments and supplies that will be required, such as sponges, drains, and other equipment
- Scrub nurse and the circulator count all needles, sponges, and instruments to be sure they are accounted for and not retained as a foreign body in the patient
Scrub Nurse
Part of the Surgical Team that:
• Performs the surgical procedure, heads the surgical team and is specially trained and qualified
• Has the ultimate responsibility for performing the surgery in an effective and safe manner
Surgeon
Part of the surgical team that:
• Assesses the patient before surgery, selects anesthesia, administers it, intubates patient if necessary, manages any technical problems related to the administration of the anesthetic agents, and supervises the patient’s condition throughout the surgical procedure
• During surgery, the anesthesiologist monitors the patient’s blood pressure, pulse, and respirations as well as the electrocardiogram (ECG), blood oxygen saturation level, tidal volume, blood gas level, blood pH, alveolar gas concentrations, and body temperature
Anesthesiologist
- The surgical suite is behind double doors, and access is limited to authorized personnel. External precautions include adherence to principles of surgical asepsis; strict control of the OR environment is required, including traffic pattern
restriction - To provide the best possible conditions for surgery, the OR is situated in a location that is central to all supporting services
Surgical Environment
To help decrease microbes, the surgical area is divided into three zones:
o Unrestricted zone: where street clothes are allowed; area in the operating room that interfaces with other departments; includes a patient reception area and holding area
o Semi-restricted zone: area in the operating room where scrub attire (scrub clothes and caps) is required; may include areas where surgical instruments are processed
o Restricted zone: scrub clothes, shoe cover caps, and masks are worn; includes operating room and sterile core area
What is included in the surgical attire?
- Scrub suit
- Head cover
- Shoes and shoe cover
- Surgical Mask
- Eye wear
- Laser eyeware
- Gloves
True or False:
Only sterile surfaces/articles may touch other sterile surfaces/articles.
True
True or False:
Gowns of the surgical team are considered sterile in front from the chest to the level of the sterile field. The sleeves are also considered sterile form 2 inches above the elbow to the stockinette cuff.
True
True or False:
The top surface and bottom of a draped table is considered sterile.
False, only the top surface is sterile.
True or False:
The movements of the surgical team can be sterile to unsterile, unsterile to sterile.
False, the movements of the surgical team are from sterile to sterile areas and from unsterile to unsterile areas.
True or False:
Items of doubtful sterility are considered unsterile.
True
Removal of foreign material from the instrument by a combination of mechanical means (scrubbing) and chemical means (Enzyme and detergents)
Cleaning
Uses 100°C boiling water to destroy most pathogens except spores
PHYSICAL DISINFECTION BY BOILING
- Used for items such as reusable respiratory devices and anesthesia breathing circuit
- Exposure to hot water with temperature of 60°C-80°C for 30 mins.
PASTEURIZATION
- Items are soaked in a disinfectant
- Choice depends on compatibility and effectiveness on the instruments
- Used for heat labile instruments that cannot be boiled or sterilized
CHEMICAL DISINFECTION
- Process in which all pathogens are destroyed including spores
- Highest level of decontamination
STERILIZATION
What are the methods of Sterilization?
Chemical, autoclaving, and dry heat sterilization
True or False:
Shelf life depends on
• Amount of handling
• The quality of packaging materials used
• Storage condition
True
3 Categories under Spaulding’s Classification
- Non-critical - Items that come in contact with INTACT SKIN (BP cuffs, stethoscope, tourniquet)
- Semi-critical - Items that come in contact with MUCOUS MEMBRANES and NON-INTACT SKIN (Speculum, anesthesia equipment, thermometer, laryngoscope)
- Critical - Items that come in penetrate sterile tissues such as BODY CAVITY and VASCULAR SYSTEM (implants, urinary catheter, needles, surgical instruments)
A reversible consisting of complete loss of consciousness that provides analgesia, muscle relaxation, and sedation, Protective reflexes are lost.
General Anesthesia
What are the 2 methods of administering general anesthesia?
- INHALATION
- INTRAVENOUS
4 Stages of General Anesthesia
STAGE 1 (BEGINNING ANESTHESIA/INDUCTION)
STAGE 2 (EXCITEMENT/DELIRIUM)
STAGE 3 (SURGICAL ANESTHESIA)
STAGE 4 (MEDULLARY DEPRESSION/DANGER)