Pre-operative Care – An orthopedic nurse is a nurse who specializes in treating patients with bone, limb, or musculoskeletal disorders. Nonetheless, because orthopedics and trauma typically follow one another, head injuries and infected wounds are frequently treated by orthopedic nurses.
Ensuring that patients receive the proper pre-and post-operative care following surgery is the responsibility of an orthopedic nurse. They play a critical role in the effort to return patients to baseline before admission. Early detection of complications following surgery, including sepsis, compartment syndrome, and site infections, falls under the purview of orthopedic nurses.
Pre-operative Care
Preoperative care of an orthopedic surgery patient:
Preoperative care beginning at the time of the decision for surgery. The purpose of care during the preoperative period is to prepare the patient, both physically and psychologically to with stand the effects of anesthesia and surgery.
1. To prepare patient for surgery physically and mentally or psychological.
2. To avoid complications.
A. Psychological or mental preparation:
All operative case should be psychological or mentally prepared. The nurse should make all possible efforts to remove or minimize the worry and fear of her patient by talk or talking and reassuring him or her and giving him or her confidence in him or her doctor. The relative should be informed as to the type of operation The patients and relatives permission for operation must be obtained.
B. Physical Preparation:
Routine care: The ward nurses are responsible for carrying out and reporting on the Slowing
1. Laboratory work – Blood, urine and stool etc.
2. Temperature, pulse and respiration (TPR) of the patient should be taken and recorded 4 hourly. Any fever and rapid or irregular pulse or low and high blood pressure to be reported.
3. Symptoms of a cold or chronic cough should be reported.
4. Preparation of the site of operation. Shave the area (according to the shaving, procedure).
5. Record height and weight. If patient is anaemic it should be reported.
Preoperative care:
When the patient is really for surgery, the surgeon writes orders for preoperative preparation.
1. Check the patient’s admission ticket.
2. Consent for operation and anesthesia from patient or relatives to be obtained.
3. Shave and clean the operation area.
4. All jewellary or valuable things should be removed and gives to the relatives or place in the safe.
5. If any false teeth, limbs or eye they must be removed.
6. The patient should be given a through bath.
7. Nothing should be given to drink after midnight and should be instructed not to eat or drink after midnight and light diet is given in the evening.
8. Enema simplex should be given according to ordered, if necessary.
9. Sedative should be given before 9 PM.
10. Nasogastric tube should be inserted and stomach contains should be aspirate, if ordered.
11. Patient should be a fear clean hospital clothes. 12. The bladder should be emptied and the patient will be sent to the O.T (Operation Theater) with all necessary records and articles.
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