Week 7-Start to surgical nursing Flashcards
(45 cards)
what is the purpose of preoperative nursing assessment
To gather baseline health information, identify risks and prepare the patient physically and emotionally for surgery
What are key components of a preoperative nursing assessment
Health history, medications, allergies, vital signs, fasting status, consent and psychosocial support
Why is patient education vital in the preoperative phase?
It reduces anxiety, increases compliance, and promotes safer recovery through understanding of the procedure and expectations.
What is included in the preoperative theatre checklist?
Correct patient ID, consent signed, surgical site marked, allergies, fasting status, recent obs, and pre-meds given.
What does an effective intraoperative nursing handover include?
Patient identity, procedure planned, allergies, medications given, IV access, positioning, and complications to monitor.
When is a patient considered ready for discharge from PACU?
When vital signs are stable, they are awake and oriented, pain is controlled, and they can maintain their airway.
What are the primary responsibilities of a PACU nurse?
Monitoring vitals, pain, wound site, neurostatus, nausea, and managing early complications.
what is general anaesthesia
a reversible loss of consciousness and sensation throughout the entire body, used in major surgeries
What are nursing considerations for general anaesthesia
Monitor for airway patency, respiratory depression, hypotension and emergence delirium
What is regional anaesthesia?
Anaesthesia applied to a specifc nerve or region, like spinal or epidural, causing numbness below the site
What are complications of regional anesthesia
Hypotension, headache, urinary retention and potential nerve damage
What is local anaesthesia
temporary loss of sensation in a small area of the body bly blocking nerve transmission locally
What is a conscious sedation
a drug-induced state where the patinet is relaxed but responsive; used for minor procedures
what is the nurses role in preventing postoperative complications?
Frequent assessments, early mobilisation, deep breathing exercises, DVT prophylaxis and pain control
Name three early postoperative complications
hypozia, haemorrhage and urinary retention
name three late postoperative complications
Infection, DVT/PE and paralytic ileus
What is the importance of pain assessment in postop care?
To ensure comfortn, promote healing, reduce complications, and tailor analgesic management
What tools are commonly used for pain assesssment
PQRST
What is multimodal pain management
Using multiple methods eg opioids, NSAIDs, PCA to optimise pain control and reduce side effects
what are side effects of paracetmaol
rare but can include liver toxicity at high doses
What is the mechanism of action of paracetaml
inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in the CNS, relieving pain and fever
What are side effects of ibuprofen
GI upset, kidney impairment, increased bleeding risk
What nursing considerations apply to ibuprofen
Give with food, monitor renal function and bleeding, caution in older adults
What is the mechanism of morphine
Respiratory depression, sedation, nausea, connstipation and hypotension
