Preoperative Nursing Care

Preoperative nursing care is crucial for preparing patients physically and psychologically for surgery. In the preoperative phase, nurses play a crucial role by informing patients of what to expect in the operating room. This blog discusses preoperative nursing care, the preparation stages, the nurse’s responsibility, and the diagnosis.

Table of Contents

What are preoperative nursing care services?

Preoperative care refers to the interventions nurses provide prior to surgery, from the time a patient determines to undergo surgery until the beginning of the procedure. It involves the patient’s physical and psychological preparation. The purpose of preoperative care is to enlighten the patient about the upcoming surgical procedure in order to reduce anxiety and improve outcomes.

Before any surgical procedure, whether major or minor, preoperative care is essential. It decreases mobility and aids patients in coping with discomfort because they are informed of the expected outcomes of surgery. Even in an emergency, patients must receive attendant care before undergoing surgery. If the patient is unresponsive, the preparations should be given to the family.

Individualized preoperative care is necessary because some patients may require as much information as possible, while others may require little to avoid anxiety. If patients wish to utilize printed materials, nurses must assess their literacy levels. Numerous aspects of preoperative care may be administered the day before surgery.

Preoperative nursing diagnosis

The nurses ensure that preoperative objectives are met by collecting comprehensive patient histories, providing patient education, and making nursing diagnoses. The following nursing diagnoses are applicable during the preoperative phase:

Assess anxiety related to surgical outcomes and experiences, such as anesthesia or discomfort.
Lack of knowledge of preoperative procedure and postoperative expectations increases the likelihood of therapeutic failure.
The anxiety associated with the distinct danger of surgery and seclusion from family
Insufficient understanding of the surgical procedure.
The anxiety associated with the possibility of mortality
Sleep disturbance caused by psychological tension and hospital routine.
The objective of the preoperative evaluation is to reduce surgery costs and the patient’s mobility, restore normal body function, and increase care.

During the preoperative phase, the following diagnostic exams may be conducted:

Blood analysis consists of sedimentation rate, blood count, serum protein, c-reactive protein, alkaline phosphate, and calcium, among other variables.
CT and MRI scans
X-ray Bone scan
Stool research
Endoscopies
Tissue biopsy
Urinalysis

What responsibilities do nurses have during the preoperative phase?

Preoperative nursing care begins when patients consent to surgery and continues until they are in the operating room. The nursing profession plays a crucial role in surgical success by assessing patients’ pre-existing health conditions, identifying new medical issues, and ensuring that patients are physically and psychologically prepared for the procedure.

The nurse is responsible for the following during the preoperative phase:

Assessing and treating psychological factors that may increase surgical risk
patient evaluations including physical and psychological
Plan of care tailored to the requirements of the patient
Increasing cardiovascular and respiratory health
The instruction and illustration of postoperative exercises
Educating patients on any lifestyle adjustments necessitated by surgery
Examine the patients’ apprehension, concerns, and anxiety
Describe remedies for reducing postoperative pain
Managing nutrition and fluids, including the timing of postoperative meals
Offer emotional support to patients.
promoting renal or liver function
promoting mobility and physical activity after surgery
Inform the patient of what to expect in the operating room.
After surgery, instructing patients in deep breathing and respiratory exercises.
Obtain the patient’s informed consent after they have fully comprehended the risks and benefits of the procedure.
What does pre-operative care entail?

When a patient consents to surgery, preoperative care begins and continues until the transfer to the operating room. This period is designed to determine whether or not the patient can withstand surgery. Preoperative preparations include general measures that must be taken prior to every surgical procedure, as well as specific measures that vary by operation type and diagnosis. The evaluation of a patient should include the following:

Identification of patients, including name and birth date
The patient’s psychological and mental state
Functional status, such as a patient’s capacity to carry out daily responsibilities
Respiratory and cardiovascular status
Skin disease
Nutritional status
Evaluate for sensory impairment, cultural requirements, and language barrier, among other factors.
Prior experience with surgical procedures and anesthetics
Anxiety
Medication, dietary supplements, botanicals, and substance abuse
Allergies

Preoperative care seeks to reduce anesthetic and surgical mortality while facilitating a speedy recovery for patients.

These are the objectives of preoperative care:

Documentation of the patient’s condition requiring surgical intervention
Identifying health conditions that may cause complications during and after surgery by assessing the patient’s health status.
Determining preoperative risk
Improving patients’ health to reduce surgical and anesthesia-related mortality
Formulating an appropriate preoperative care strategy
To reduce anxiety, patients are educated about intraoperative care, surgery, anesthesia, and postoperative pain treatment.
Reducing hospital expenses, shortening hospital stays, and increasing patient satisfaction

What are the preoperative preparatory steps?

Patients who consent to surgery rely on nurses’ abilities, knowledge, and honesty. The preoperative phase encompasses patient evaluation, patient interviews, and preparation for anesthesia and surgery. The following are pre-operative nursing care types:

Physical conditioning

Physical preparation includes obtaining a patient’s anesthetic and surgical histories. The nurse should determine if the patient has ever reacted to anesthesia or if hyperthermia runs in the family. Numerous laboratory tests, including urinalysis, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, electrolyte, and CBC, are performed.

If a patient is over 50 years old or has a history of cardiac disease, nurses should perform an EKG. If the patient has a history of respiratory disease, a chest X-ray should be performed. Examine the patients for potential impediments to recovery, such as steroid use, nutritional deficiency, radiotherapy, metabolic disorders, and alcohol or substance abuse.

The patient should set out all of their vitamins, medications, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Each patient should also be evaluated for latex allergy in order to determine the optimal intervention.

Psychological planning

Patients are frequently apprehensive before surgery. The nurse can aid in anxiety reduction by validating the patient’s condition, listening to their concerns, and answering their inquiries. This conversation can benefit patients undergoing high-risk procedures or suffering from chronic ailments. Include family members or legal guardians in your preoperative care.

Inform the surgeon if a patient anticipates dying during surgery; in some cases, it may be best to postpone the procedure. Children are fearful and should be permitted to be accompanied by their guardians. Additionally, they should bring their favored toys to ensure their comfort. Preparations help patients manage pain and achieve positive outcomes.

Consent based upon

Written consent is vital in preoperative care. The nurse should inform the patient of the risks and benefits of the surgery as well as alternative treatment options. The patient should then sign the consent form after having comprehended and consented to the procedure. Patients who are mentally impaired, gravely ill, or heavily sedated are unable to provide assent; their next of kin must do so instead.

Preoperative instruction

Preoperative instruction includes instruction on the preoperative, surgical, and postoperative periods. The preoperative instructions should include information on when to attend, where to go, and how to prepare. For instance, instruct patients regarding the last meal before surgery and medications to take or bring, such as an inhaler.

Surgical instructions, including what to expect in the operating room and the duration of the procedure. The nurses should notify family members of where to wait during surgery, how long it will last, and who will provide updates on the patient’s condition.

Patients should be informed about postoperative expectations, such as wheezing and deep breathing exercises. To reduce the risk of blood clotting, nurses should instruct patients in early leg exercise. They should also describe the tubes and apparatus, including drainage tubes, monitoring devices, intravenous lines, and dressing.

Pain management

In the preoperative instructions, pain management should also be included. Nurses should encourage patients to take or request pain medication before the agony becomes unbearable. Additionally, they should employ pain management techniques such as positioning, distractions, imagery, music therapy, and meditation. You also discuss with the patients when they can be discharged, when they can begin eating substantial foods, and when they can return to work.

Preparation

During postoperative preparations, it is necessary to affirm that all necessary supplies are available. Teaching techniques include providing patients with a pamphlet or video. The patient should be prepared to execute the consent form. Patients are permitted to add or omit items from the consent form. Prior to surgery, enough time should be allocated so that the patient is not rushed.

Wrap up

Prior to any surgical procedure, whether major or minor, preoperative nursing care is indispensable. It entails physical and psychological preparedness of the patient, which informs them of the upcoming surgical experience to alleviate their anxiety. Utilize the information in this blog to provide the optimal preoperative nursing care for patients in order to achieve the greatest patient outcome.

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