Surgery encompasses all elements in the scientific care of surgical patients. The operation is the focal point for these patients. It is imperative that the patient comes to the operating room (OR) optimally prepared physically and emotionally before performance of an operative procedure.
The persons concerned with and/or contributing to surgical patient care are many. The practical nurse shares a special experience with the patient at this time of great stress and need in his life. Their relationship encompasses feelings, attitudes, and behavior approaches. The nurse’s first objective is to promote and establish a meaningful, therapeutic relationship, enabling the provision of individualized care. He, then, is to provide the perioperative nursing care that is required for the safest possible care of the patient and production of a favorable surgical outcome.
Subcourse Components:
This subcourse consists of four lessons and an examination. The lessons are:
Lesson 1. Preoperative Care of the Surgical Patient
Lesson 2. Operating Room Care of the Surgical Patient
Lesson 3. Recovery Room Care of the Surgical Patient
Lesson 4. Postoperative Care of the Surgical Patient
Students who desire credit hours for this correspondence subcourse must meet eligibility requirements and must enroll through the Nonresident Instruction Branch of the U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School (AMEDDC&S).
Study Suggestions:
Here are suggestions that may be helpful to you in completing this subcourse:
–Read and study each lesson carefully.
–Complete the subcourse lesson by lesson. After completing each lesson, work the exercises at the end of the lesson, marking your answers in this booklet.
–After completing each set of lesson exercises, compare your answers with those on the solution sheet, which follows the exercises. If you have answered an exercise incorrectly, check the reference cited after the answer on the solution sheet to determine why your response was not the correct one.
–As you successfully complete each lesson, go on to the next. When you have completed all of the lessons, complete the examination. Mark your answers in this booklet; then transfer your responses to the examination answer sheet using a #2 pencil.