Infection: Post Anesthesia Care Unit (Part 1) 1
University of South Dakota Vermillion, South Dakota Department of Nursing 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 signs and symptoms (including vital signs) 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?