Lesson 3: Recovery Room Care of the Surgical Patient |
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The recovery room, which is generally located near the operating room, has accommodations for a group of surgical patients who are under the continuous surveillance of highly skilled personnel. These patients are taken to the recovery room after surgery. There, the nurses check on the patient's condition continuously. The majority of the recovery room nurse's time is spent at the bedside rendering direct patient care. The observation of a patient cannot be completed from any other location. When the patient has fully recovered from the anesthesia and there is no evidence of complications, he is prepared to return to the nursing unit. This lesson will include the knowledge and skills required by the practical nurse to care for a surgical patient in the recovery room. a. Airway. A passageway through which air normally circulates. A device that is inserted through the patient's mouth to maintain the patency of an air passage such as the trachea. b. Anoxia. A reduction in, or lack of, oxygen. c. Coma. A state of being unconscious or unresponsive to stimuli. d. Conscious. A state of being awake, responsive, and alert. e. Disoriented. A state of being confused; lack of response or inappropriate response to stimuli. f. Dyspnea. Difficult and labored breathing in which the patient has a persistent unsatisfied need for air and feels distressed. g. Embolism. The obstruction of a blood vessel by a foreign substance due to an air bubble, fat globule, or purulent matter of blood clot. h. Embolus. An embolism floating in the blood stream. i. Hypoventilation. A state in which there is a decreased or reduced volume of air taken into the lungs. j. Hypoxemia. Low oxygen content in the blood. k. Hypoxia. A decrease on the supply of oxygen to cells of the body. l. Lethargic. A condition of drowsiness or indifference. m. Pallor. The absence of the skin coloration or paleness. n. Semiconscious. A state of being able to respond to physiological stimuli, but capable only of reduced response to mental stimuli. o. Suction. The act of sucking up (or drawing up) by reducing air pressure and creating a partial vacuum. p. Unconscious. A state of being unaware and unresponsive to all stimuli. 3-3. FACTS ABOUT THE RECOVERY ROOM a. The recovery room is sometimes referred to as the postanesthetic room (PR) or anesthetic room (AR). It is a special nursing unit that accommodates a group of patients who have just undergone major or minor surgery. b. The purpose of a recovery room is to provide direct and continuous patient observation during emergence from general or regional anesthesia. c. The recovery room and surgical intensive care unit are used mainly for the same general purpose; that is, to accommodate a group of patients who have undergone surgery and need close observation and prompt care in the event of sudden complications. However, there is a difference between the two.
d. The practical nurse responsibility for the care of a patient in the recovery room is to prevent complications, detect early complications, relieve patient's discomfort, support patients through their state of dependence to independence, and closely monitor the patient's condition. e. The recovery room (see Figure 3-1) should be quiet, clean, and free of unnecessary equipment. This room should have:
3-4. COMPLICATIONS TO BE PREVENTED FOR THE SURGICAL PATIENT IN THE RECOVERY ROOM The first hours after surgery require alert attention to prevent occurrence of complications that may happen while the patient is in the recovery room. Each nurse will be able to relate to the complications that are respiratory distress and hypovolemic shock. a. Facts Concerning Respiratory Distress.
b. Nursing Implications to Prevent Respiratory Distress.
c. Facts About Hypovolemic Shock. Hemorrhage secondary to surgery, which may be internal or external, may cause hypovolemic shock. The loss of blood or fluid volume does not have to be rapid or in copious amounts to cause shock. d. Nursing Implications for the Early Detection of Pending Hypovolemic Shock.
3-5. GENERAL NURSING IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CARE OF A PATIENT Nursing interventions immediately after surgery are carried out by the recovery room nurses. These nurses have special skills to care for a patient recovering from anesthesia and surgery. Their main goals are to make sure the patient is comfortable and safe while in the recovery room. The nurses will: a. Maintain proper functioning of drains, tubes, and intravenous fluids. b. Prevent kinking or clogging that interferes with adequate drainage of catheters and drainage tubes. c. Encourage and assist the patient to cough, to turn frequently, and to take deep breaths several times each hour (see Lesson 1, paras 1-5a(1), (2), (3)). d. Monitor the patient's intake and output accurately, including all IVs, blood products, urine, emesis, NG tube drainage, etc. (refer to Lesson 4, para 4-13b). e. Implement safety measures to protect dependent and lethargic patients. These safety measures are given below.
f. Prevent nosocomial infections by washing your hands before and after working with each patient. Maintain aseptic technique for incisional wound care and turn the patient frequently to prevent respiratory infections. g. Observe for and report any feeling/movement of the patient if he has had a spinal anesthetic.
(6) The patient may turn from side to side and prop up with pillows if the physician permits. This is done to relieve pressure from his back, but only for a few minutes at a time. h. Observe and document the recovery room patient's level of consciousness.
i. Take into consideration each patient's baseline (normal) responses due to various physical factors.
j. Provide emotional support to the patient and family.
(3) Encourage conversation with the patient. This will decrease anxiety and increase his lung expansion. (4) Reinforce information from the surgeon. k. When the patient is cleared by the surgeon, call the receiving nursing unit and give the report. Include the following information.
l. Record all of the above information on SF 510, Nursing Notes (see Figure 3-6). Transfer the patient per recovery room SOP. Section III. SUCTIONING THE PATIENT IN THE RECOVERY ROOM 3-6. ADMINISTERING ORAL/NASAL SUCTIONING TO THE RECOVERY ROOM PATIENT a. Oral/nasal suctioning is suctioning of the upper airway passages of the nose, mouth, and pharynx. This procedure is used to assist the patient in eliminating secretions before he has regained full consciousness and cannot spit out secretions. The catheter used should be soft and pliable. When you employ suctioning, you must make every effort to prevent the introduction of pathogens (disease causing microorganisms) into the lower airways. Normally, countless microorganisms are found in the upper respiratory tract and it is virtually impossible to maintain sterility when suctioning the nose or pharynx. Clean technique and thorough handwashing are essential for pharyngeal suctioning of the oral and nasal cavities, but aseptic technique is mandatory for deep suctioning in the tracheobronchial tree and for the intubated patient. b. Administer an oral/nasal suctioning to the patient in the recovery room.
(16) Suction for no more than 15 seconds. Suctioning for more than 15 seconds may cause hypoxia. Allow the patient to rest for 2 to 3 minutes between catheter insertions. (17) Rinse the catheter in the cup of water after each insertion. (21) Assist the patient to a comfortable position while maintaining a patent airway. (22) Discard equipment or return it to the appropriate area.
3-7. ADMINISTERING ENDOTRACHEAL SUCTIONING TO THE RECOVERY ROOM PATIENT a. Endotracheal suctioning can be accomplished through an endotracheal tube that the physician inserts through the patient's mouth and into the trachea. It can remain in place for several days and, when its cuff is inflated to provide a tight connection, it can be attached to a respirator for controlled ventilation (see Figure 3-8). The inflated cuff also aids in preventing aspiration of blood, vomitus or foreign material into the bronchus. b. Although endotracheal suctioning is a common procedure, it is one that interferes with arterial oxygenation. The decrease in oxygen in the alveoli is directly proportional to the amount of suction and the length of time the procedure takes. The amount of oxygen in the blood drops suddenly and produces serious hypoxia. It is essential to oxygenate the patient pre- and post-suctioning. c. Endotracheal suctioning should be done only when necessary to maintain the airway, and then it must be brief. When suctioning is unavoidable, sterile technique (aseptic) must be used.
(b) Sterile suction solution container.
(c) Sterile saline -- pour bottle. (d) Oxygen flowmeter with a ventilator or manual resuscitator. (e) Waste receptacle.
(2) Identify the patient and explain the suction procedure to the patient. (3) Provide the patient with privacy. (4) Observe the patient for evidence of airway obstruction due to secretions. (5) Position the patient in a semi-Fowler's position (see Figure 3-9). (6) Provide a clean work area. (7) Wash your hands. (10) Turn on the suction unit and set the desired pressure according to equipment specification or the physician's order. (11) Put on the sterile gloves.
(17) Rotate the catheter between the thumb and index fingers of your sterile hand while applying intermittent suction and withdrawing the catheter. (18) Rinse the suction catheter in sterile saline. (21) Repeat the suction procedure until the airway is clear, rinsing the catheter and hyperoxygenating the patient. (22) Perform oropharyngeal suctioning, if possible. (23) Shut off the suction machine. (24) Remove your gloves and place them in the waste receptacle. (25) Determine the patient's airway patency and vital signs. (26) Assist the patient to a comfortable position. (27) Discard the suction kit equipment and return all equipment to the appropriate area. (28) Wash your hands. (29) Record procedure and report significant observations to the Charge Nurse.
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