Pre-Operative Care

• What is one role of nursing in pre-operative care?

  Pre-surgical appointment
• What is another role of nursing on the day of surgery?

  Day of surgery
• What are the goals of pre-operative nursing actions?

  • Collecting and interpreting information to assess surgical risk
  • Optimizing client’s health before and after surgery
• What types of risks are associated with surgery?

  Intra-operative and post-operative risks
• Why is understanding surgical risk important?

  It is crucial for successful recovery
• What factors influence surgical risk and outcomes?

  • Nutrition
  • Lifestyle (smoking, alcohol)
  • Age
  • Immune function (autoimmune, medications)
  • Cultural/Values/Religion (e.g., blood transfusion)
  • Clotting disorders
  • Genetics (e.g., BRCA, Cystic fibrosis)
• What are patient risk factors related to medical conditions?

  Conditions that increase complication risk
• What does physiologic reserve refer to?

  Old age, young age, pregnancy
• What health status factors can influence surgical risk?

  Poor nutrition and mobility
• How can past surgical experiences affect risk?

  Experience with anesthesia
• What types of allergies should be noted in pre-operative assessment?

  Medications, latex, anesthetics
• What medications should be collected in medical history for pre-operative assessment?

  • High risk medications:
  • Antibiotics
  • Anti-hypertensives
  • Anti-dysrhythmics
  • Anticoagulants
  • Insulin
  • Diuretics
  • Supplements: Ginger, Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng, Garlic, St. John’s Wort
• What is involved in a physical assessment for pre-operative care?

  • Head-to-toe systems assessment
  • Identify normal and abnormal findings
  • Determine overall health status
  • Identify risk factors
  • Contribute to post-operative planning
• What is the purpose of a cardiac assessment?

  To identify function and stress tolerance for surgery
• Why might patients with cardiac diagnoses need additional consultation?

  To understand surgical risk related to their condition
• What does a respiratory assessment identify?

  Function and alterations to respiratory function
• How does optimal respiratory function relate to surgery?

  It leads to safer surgical procedures
• Which organs are important for metabolizing anesthesia?

  Kidneys and liver
• What happens if there are alterations in kidney or liver function?

  It may change the metabolism of medications
• What are the key assessments performed before surgery?

  • Cardiac Assessment: function and stress tolerance
  • Respiratory Assessment: function and alterations
  • Kidney & Liver Assessment: metabolism of anesthesia and medications
• What should be reported to the provider if unexpected?

  Unexpected findings
• What must be verified before a procedure?

  Consent
• Who should questions be directed to during a procedure?

  Provider
• What is an important role of the healthcare provider before a procedure?

  Provide teaching
• What are the phases of perioperative care?

  • Pre-operative phase
  • Intra-operative phase
  • Post-operative phase
• What should patients expect post-operatively?

  Post-op expectations
• What is informed consent?

  Legal mandate for patient agreement
• Who is responsible for providing information for informed consent?

  The surgeon is responsible
• What information must be included for informed consent?

  Procedure, risks, benefits, alternatives, complications, expectations
• Is there a minimum age for consent?

  No minimum age exists
• What is required for a person to give consent?

  Ability to give consent is required
• What is the focus of the teaching preparation mentioned?

  Preparing for post-operative care
• What are the main components of post-operative care?

  • Pain management
  • Respiratory function
  • Mobility
  • Preventing complications
• What are the two types of pain management interventions?

  Pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions
• What is the purpose of pharmacological interventions in post-operative care?

  To manage pain effectively
• What is the role of non-pharmacological interventions in pain management?

  To complement pharmacological pain relief
• What are the key aspects of respiratory function management post-operatively?

  • Deep breathing and coughing exercises
  • Use of incentive spirometry
• What is the purpose of deep breathing and coughing exercises?

  To improve lung function and prevent complications
• What is incentive spirometry used for?

  To encourage deep breathing
• What is the importance of mobility in post-operative care?

  • Promotes early recovery
  • Reduces risk of complications
  • Enhances overall well-being