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Surgery PDF
Surgery PDF
successfully to decrease postoperative incisional pain. Other support to help the client successfully meet self-care demands.
approaches include acupuncture, acupressure, and therapeutic All aspects of teaching should be accompanied by written
touch. Additional information on pain management techniques guidelines, directions, and information. This is particularly
is found in Chapter 4. helpful when a large amount of unfamiliar, detailed informa-
Opioid dosage requirements vary greatly from one client to tion is presented. Because the hospital stay is often brief, make
another and by the route they are taken. Remember that oral an organized, coordinated effort to educate the client and fam-
doses of analgesics are not equal to parenteral doses. Oral doses ily. Teaching needs vary, but the most common needs include:
need to be higher to provide equianalgesia. See Table 4–4 re- • How to perform wound care. Teaching is more effective if
garding equianalgesics. the nurse first demonstrates and explains the procedure for
The client’s input and participation in assessing pain and the client and family or other caregiver. The client and fam-
pain relief is essential to a successful pain control regime. For ily should then participate in the care. To evaluate the effec-
example, the client can rate the pain on a scale of 0 to 10 (where tiveness of the teaching, ask the client or caregiver to demon-
0 signifies no pain and 10 signifies unbearable pain). Assess strate the procedure in return. Ideally, teaching is carried out
and document pain at scheduled intervals to determine the de- over several days, evaluated, and periodically reinforced.
gree of pain control, to observe for drug side effects, and to as- • Signs and symptoms of a wound infection. The client should
sess the need for changes in the dosage and/or frequency of be able to determine what is normal and what should be re-
medication administration. ported to the physician.
• Method and the frequency of taking one’s temperature.
Using NANDA, NIC, and NOC • Limitations or restrictions that may be imposed on such ac-
Chart 7–1 shows links between NANDA nursing diagnoses, tivities as lifting, driving, bathing, sexual activity, and other
NIC, and NOC when caring for the postoperative client. physical activities.
• Control of pain. If analgesics are prescribed, instruct the
Home Care client in the dosage, frequency, purpose, common side ef-
Because the postoperative phase does not end until the client fects, and other side effects to report to the physician. Rein-
has recovered completely from the surgical intervention, the force the use of relaxation, distraction, imagery, or other pain
nurse plays a vital role as the client nears discharge. As the control techniques that the client has found useful in con-
client prepares to recuperate at home, provide information and trolling postoperative pain.
EXPLORE MediaLink
NCLEX Review questions,case studies,care plan activities,MediaLink Click on Chapter 7 to select the activities for this chapter. For ani-
applications, and other interactive resources for this chapter can be mations, video clips, more NCLEX review questions, and an audio
found on the Companion Website at www.prenhall.com/lemone. glossary, access the Student CD-ROM accompanying this textbook.