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Preoperative Nursing Care
Preoperative Nursing Care
Preoperative Nursing Care
BSN 3B2
Preoperative Nursing
- A special field that includes a wide variety of nursing functions associated with the patient’s
surgical experience during the preoperative period.
Preoperative Period
- Begins with the decision to have surgery and ends with clients are on the operating table.
Preoperative preparation may occur several days before the surgery.
A. Preoperative Assessments
1. Nursing History should include current health status; allergies; current medications;
medical history; previous surgeries; understanding and expectations of surgery; use of
alcohol; caffeine, or other drugs; family and social support; occupation; and emotional
health.
2. Physical examination is brief but complete and focuses on systems that could affect the
client’s response to the surgery or to anesthesia. Data from the physical exam provides
an important baseline for comparison during and after surgery.
vital signs
head and neck
skin turgor
thorqx and lungs
heart and vascular system
abdomen
neurological status
B. Preoperative Screening Tests
1. CBC
2. Serum electrolytes analysis
3. Coagulation study
4. Serum creatinine clearance and BUN
5. Urinalysis
6. Chest X-ray
7. Electrocardiogram
8. Blood typing and cross matching
9. Fasting blood glucose
C. Physical Preparation for Surgery
Most agencies have a preoperative checklist for use on the day of surgery to ensure that all
necessary records are in the chart and that all physical preparation has been done to assure
client safety. Preparation depends on the type of surgery being performed.
D. Preoperative Teaching
1. Surgical events sensation
2. Pain management
3. Physical activities
deep breathing
coughing
incentive spirometry
leg exercises
turning in bed
4. Emotional supports
Informed consent is when, after receiving and understanding the following information, the
client voluntarily agrees to undergo a particular treatment: