Infection: Post Care Unit (Part 1) 1

University of South Dakota Vermillion, South Dakota Department of Student Prep

INSTRUCTIONS:

 Clinical uniform and name badge are required.  Complete the following prep prior to simulation. Bring all completed and thorough preps with you to the simulation.  Bring with you your laptop, medication book, med-surg textbook.

Client information (general): 48-year old female patient in post-anesthesia recovery room. She just had a cholecystectomy. You will be doing her assessment, implementing physician orders, and nursing cares as needed.

Complete a literature search and obtain one article that describes what is included in a post- anesthesia assessment and/or what nursing care is involved. Summarize the key points and cite your reference.

Look up the following medications and document their use:

*Lisinopril PO

*Multivitamin PO

*Calcium PO

*Morphine IV

*Demerol IV

*Ondansetron IV

*Naloxone IV

*Ancef

Infection: Post Anesthesia Care Unit (Part 1) 2

University of South Dakota Vermillion, South Dakota Department of Nursing Student Prep

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. Explain what the nursing assessment and care of a surgical patient consists of upon admission to the clinical unit from the PACU.

2. What potential postoperative complications might the nurse expect to see in a patient undergoing general surgery?

3. What nursing interventions would be appropriate to initiate to prevent these complications from occurring?

4. Explain patient-controlled analgesia (PCA).

5. Using your textbook/s, please read the section about post-anesthesia care:

a. What is involved with a post-anesthesia (post-op) assessment?

b. How would you know that the patient is tolerating being extubated (that they are breathing well)?

c. What (including ) might indicate that the patient has started to bleed excessively (either internally or externally)?

d. How do you complete a post-operative pain assessment? How would you intervene when the patient is having pain? What factors need to be considered?

e. What needs to be monitored and documented in reference to a patient’s post-op dressings?