PRE OPERATIVE CARE

Terminology description:

The nursing care that is administered for patients who undergo surgery is referred as Pre- operative Care.  Pre operative care can be of physical preparation and/ or psychological preparation.

Need for pre- operative care:

Pre-operative cares are administered for better outcome of surgery. This helps in satisfying patients’ need and also surgeons. It helps in reducing physical and mental fear of an individual. A rapport is developed between the patient and nurse and effective communication is made. Pre-operative caring will be separate for each and every individual patient. This reduces the patient’s anxiety and worries about surgery. They are performed on the day before surgery or week before the surgery for an outpatient. It is best to practice pre operative care a few minutes before the surgery. If the instructions are given for a long period of time then there is a tendency for a patient to lose the attention or forget the information provided.

Pre operative nursing skills:

• Collection of patient information
• Diagnosis report segregation
• Nursing caring plan preparation
• Addressing patients’ physical and emotional need
• Patient care
• Understanding the perception of patient about surgery
• Removal of environmental stress

Pre operative teaching principles:

Pre-operative teaching is very much essential today. This includes both pre operative instructions and post operative requirements. This type of knowledge provides extensive operative knowledge and reduces the complications that are associated with the surgery. In addition, pre-operative teaching gives information to tackle or manage pain. Pain management method helps in post-operation. The patient should be taught how to overcome his or her emotional feelings. Pain management methods like imagery, music therapy, mindfulness medication, distraction and positioning are practiced which helps in reducing sufferings of surgery. Nurse should teach post operative required exercises like

• Turning
• Coughing
• Movement of hip, knee, joints, legs and hands
• Deep breathing to prevent atelectasis and post operative pneumonia

Questions:

• Explain the principle behind Pre-operative care
• Explain the importance of Pain management in pre-operative care.