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Postoperative Phase

  • The postoperative phase begins when the patient is transferred to the PACU and ends when the patient is discharged from the hospital or facility.
  • This phase includes all activities that occur after the surgery, such as monitoring vital signs and other parameters, assessing pain and wound healing, preventing complications, providing education and support, and promoting recovery.
  • Vital signs and other parameters are monitored continuously or at regular intervals after surgery to assess the patient’s status and recovery.
  • They include blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, end-tidal carbon dioxide, electrocardiogram, urine output and temperature.
  • The nurse should compare the values with the baseline and normal ranges, report any abnormal or significant changes to the physician or surgeon and intervene as needed.
  • Pain assessment is done to evaluate the patient’s level of discomfort and response to analgesics.
  • It involves asking the patient to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is no pain and 10 is worst pain imaginable, or using a nonverbal scale, such as faces, for patients who cannot communicate verbally.
  • It also involves assessing the location, quality, duration, frequency and aggravating or relieving factors of pain.
  • The nurse should administer analgesics as ordered, preferably before pain becomes severe, and monitor for effectiveness and adverse effects.
  • Wound healing assessment is done to evaluate the condition of the surgical site and detect any signs of infection or dehiscence.
  • It involves inspecting the dressing for bleeding or drainage, changing it as ordered or when soiled, observing the wound for redness, swelling, warmth, pain or purulent discharge, measuring any drainage amount or color, palpating for crepitus or subcutaneous emphysema, and noting any separation of wound edges or protrusion of organs.
  • The nurse should report any abnormal findings to the physician or surgeon and intervene as needed.

Questions on Postoperative Phase

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

<p>Administer pain medication. This is not the priority action because the patient&#39;s pain level is not mentioned in the question. Pain medication may be indicated for postoperative pain management, but it does not address the underlying cause of the patient&#39;s hypotension, tachycardia, and oliguria. Pain medication may also lower the blood pressure further and mask the signs of shock.</p>

Correct Answer is ["A","B","E"]

Explanation

<p>Reporting any signs of infection to the physician or surgeon is an important instruction for wound care after a minor surgical procedure. Signs of infection include redness, swelling, warmth, pain, pus, fever, or foul odor. Infection can delay healing, cause complications, or spread to other parts of the body.</p>

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

<p>This is not the best response because it only expresses sympathy but does not ask the patient any questions or offer any solutions. It may also sound patronizing or dismissive to some patients.</p>

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

<p>This is incorrect because applying pressure on the wound can cause more bleeding or damage to the tissues. The nurse should not touch the wound or try to close it by themselves. The nurse should only cover the wound with a sterile dressing moistened with saline and wait for the doctor&#39;s instructions. Applying pressure on the wound can also increase the risk of infection or evisceration.</p>

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

<p>Infection is the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms in the body, which can trigger an immune response and cause inflammation, fever, and chills. It can occur after surgery due to contamination of the surgical site, catheters, or intravenous lines. Infection is the most likely cause of fever and chills in a postoperative patient.</p>

<p>This is also an incorrect statement by the client that indicates a need for further teaching. Taking anticoagulant medication as prescribed is not enough to prevent thromboembolic events after a total hip replacement. The client should also wear compression stockings, use intermittent pneumatic c

<p>Muscle weakness and fatigue are not specific signs of hypocalcemia, but rather general signs of malaise. Malaise can occur for various reasons, such as infection, inflammation, stress, or chronic illness. Malaise can affect the physical and mental well-being of a person, but it does not directly

<p>This is incorrect because wearing a compression sleeve on the affected arm is not recommended for routine use after a mastectomy. Compression sleeves are only indicated for clients who have developed lymphedema and need to reduce the swelling. They may also be used for air travel or strenuous exe

<p>Increasing the frequency of perineal care may help prevent or reduce infection by keeping the area clean and dry. However, this is not the first action the nurse should take. The nurse should first notify the provider of the findings and administer an antibiotic as ordered to treat the infection.
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