Surgical Patient Care and Roles Flashcards
What methods of temperature regulation can be given to a hypothermic patient?
Heat pad
Bear Hugger
Bubble Wrap
Blankets
Hot Water Bottle/Microwave heated pads
Thermal socks/bubble wrap on feet
Humidifiers attached to GA circuit
What causes a change in temperature?
Pre medication drugs
Age of patient
Weight/body condition of patient
Length of procedure
If patient gets wet
Anaesthetic gases
Where surgical site is
Why is analgesia important?
Pain can have detrimental effects of patient welfare and recovery.
Pain can lead to hyperalgesia and allodynia (sensitive to pain).
Leads to difficulties in nursing care.
Why are dressings important?
Appropriate dressing should be placed on post operative wounds to preserve aseptic techniques.
For a minimum of 24 hours to allow the wound to form a seal after surgery.
What is the role of surgical assistants in theatre?
Pass instruments
Retract tissue
Suction
There to be a second pair of hands
What is the role of the scrubbed theatre nurse?
Works directly with VS within sterile field.
Ensures sterility maintained and liaises with circulating nurse.
Organises sterile instruments and passes sterile equipment to vet.
What is the role of a circulating nurse?
Tasks performed outside sterile field.
Organises nursing care with rest of team.
Tasks could include –
- passing instruments in sterile
- manner to scrubbed nurse
- Organising equipment
- Monitoring and recording
- Consumables
What is the role of anaesthetists?
Usually an SVN/RVN under direction of VS
- Administering analgesia and anaesthetics
- Recovery
- I/V, bloods, runner
How could a theatre be prepared?
Area checked and clean - disinfectants at correct concentrations
All theatres damp dusted at start of day
Spot cleaned after each procedure
Room set appropriately for procedure
Correct equipment and instruments
Checking sterilised equipment
Patient checked
What is the importance of the RVN?
An understanding of procedures and outcome.
Understanding of the 5 freedoms and do best to fulfil them.
Understand the code of conduct.
Applying the nursing process and nursing models.
Admission of the patient
Preparation of patient
Preparation of equipment
Support through surgery
Recovery of the patient
Discharge of the patient
Aftercare/home careplan
Post op checks
What anti-lick/chew devices can be used post-op?
Elizabethan collar - soft/inflatable
Stocking
T-shirt/underwear
Surgical body suit
Cover
What are some nursing considerations to be used post-op?
Aftercare advice sheets
Providing protective cover/anti-chew device
Monitor for swelling/chafing/staining/smell/slipping/collapse
Medications - analgesia
Exercise - factors that promote/delay healing
Post-op checks
Post-op bedding/environment
What are some peri-operative nursing considerations?
- Surgical preparation of skin
- Positioning of patient
- Equipment
- Drapes – “strike-through”
- Monitor patient for hypothermia and dehydration
- Swabs counted and weighed for blood loss calculations
