PART C: REFLECTIVE JOURNAL AND EVALUATION OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE Aseptic Technique Although the importance of aseptic technique has been continually reiterated, I have realised its substantial role in the perioperative environment. Aseptic technique refers to the practice of creating and maintaining a sterile environment used for sterile procedures (Laws, 2010a). This is incredibly important as repetitive minor breaches of the sterile environment is one of the major factors increasing the risk of surgical site infection (Harrop et al., 2012). Circulating nurses must check the expiry date and the integrity of the packaging and wear the correct PPE prior to opening the articles. Each article must maintain its sterility; therefore the setup must be continuously monitored. Instrument nurses must create the sterile field using sterile drapes as they minimise the transference of microorganisms. They must also keep their hands at chest level, as areas below table height can be easily contaminated (Australian College of Operating Room Nurses, 2010). Medications Preoperative Phase Pharmacology is a vital component in the perioperative practice. Medication use is monitored closely during the perioperative period. Preoperatively, there are certain drugs that must be discontinued prior to a surgery as they increase surgical risk, including anticoagulants, tranquillisers, corticosteroids and diuretics (Laws, 2010b). In fact, these drugs can increase the risk of respiratory depression, infection, fluid and electrolyte imbalance and increased risk of bleeding (Hamlin, 2010). Open communication is important in obtaining a medication history, and in identifying the drugs taken prior to the surgery. If any of these medications has be... ... middle of paper ... ...the patient’s safety, gathering supplies needed and checking if equipment needed are working, setting up the sterile field, maintaining its sterility, and completing all the documents. Hamlin (2010) further states that RNs may be required to provide emotional support during the induction phase of anaesthesia. Postoperative Phase Although students were not allowed in the recovery unit, I was able to talk to one of the recovery nurses. I learned that a nurse’s duty of care includes monitoring the patient’s vital signs and level of consciousness, and maintaining airway patency. Assessing pain and the effectiveness of pain management is also necessary. Once patients are transferred to the surgical ward, the goal is to assist in the recovery process, as well as providing referral details and education on care required when the patient returns home (Hamlin, 2010).
Although nurses do not wield the power of doctors in hospital settings, they are still able to effectively compensate for a doctor’s deficits in a variety of ways to assure patient recovery. Nurses meet a patient’s physical needs, which assures comfort and dignity Nurses explain and translate unfamiliar procedures and treatments to patients which makes the patient a partner in his own care and aids in patient compliance. Nurses communicate patient symptoms and concerns to physicians so treatment can be altered if necessary and most importantly, nurses provide emotional support to patients in distress.
Because I provide the surgeon with medications, hemostatic agents and irrigation solutions it is crucial to know the proper usage of each, along with the side effects, patient's allergies, and contradictions of certain medications and their reactive
and giving medicine and IVs. A RN makes sure the patient has knowledge of their situation and
Yacopetti, N., Davidson, P., Blacka, J., & Spencer, T. (2013). Preventing contamination at the time of central venous catheter insertion: a literature review and recommendations for clinical practice. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 22(5/6), 611-620. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04340.x
Stomberg, M., Sjöström, B., & Haljamäe, H. (2003). The Role of the Nurse Anesthetist in the Planning of Postoperative Pain Management. AANA Journal, 71(3), 197.
...ing education courses and renew certification. When they are considered competent enough to deliver anesthesia, they must also be able to deal effectively with the daily changes and challenges that a hospital environment can create. They must also be able to “stomach” many types of sense triggers. Although they are one of the top paid nursing practices, they have to endure stress throughout their whole career, starting with the educational aspects.
Central lines (CL) are used frequently in hospitals throughout the world. They are placed by trained health care providers, many times nurses, using sterile technique but nosocomial central line catheter associated blood stream infections (CLABSI) have been a dangerous issue. This is a problem that nurses need to pay particular attention to, and is a quality assurance issue, because CLABSI’s “are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and health care costs” (The Joint Commission, 2012). There have been numerous studies conducted, with the objective to determine steps to take to decrease CLABSI infection rate, and research continues to be ongoing today. The problem is prevalent on many nursing units, with some patients at great risk than others, but some studies have shown if health care providers follow the current literature, or evidence based guidelines, CLABSIs can be prevented (The Joint Commission, 2012). The purpose of this paper is to summarize current findings related to this topic, and establish a quality assurance (QA) change plan nurses can implement for CL placement and maintenance, leading to decreased risk of nosocomial CLABSIs.
Ignatavicius, D. D., & Workman, M. L. (2013). Care of Intraoperative Patients. Medical-surgical nursing: patient-centered collaborative care (7th ed.). St. Louis: Elsevier.
Davenport, Joan M., Stacy Estridge, and Dolores M. Zygmont. Medical-surgical nursing. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008, 66-88.
When I was working as a bedside nurse in the Emergency Department, in one of my duties I was not satisfied with the treatment plan made by a resident doctor for XYZ patient. He entered intravenous KCL (potassium chloride) for the patient. The purpose of that medication and its dose for that patient was not clear to me. I assessed patient history and came to know that a middle aged patient came with the complaint of loose bowel movements, vomiting, and generalized weakness. His GCS (Glasgow comma scale) was 15/15, looked pale but was vitally stable. I exactly do not remember about his previous disease, social or family history but I do remember that he was there with his son. According to the care plan, I inserted intravenous cannula, took blood
Sarah Dobinson is a patient at increased risk of infection she is an older patient in a hyper metabolic state secondary to trauma. To ensure Sarah’s safety a set of CVC guidelines have been developed using the most recent primary sources. These guidelines will focus on nursing interventions post insertion in an adult ICU setting they have been developed under four sections addressing the importance of hand hygiene and aseptic technique, changing of administra...
Saint John’s One Day Surgery (ODS) offers patients a convenient and efficient same day surgical procedure that allows most patients to return home on the same day to recover. The objectives of this paper is to describe the physical environment of the ODS unit and explain the unit’s criteria so that the patient’s surgery may proceed as planned. It will also discuss some of the many roles of the ODS nurse and list one actual diagnosis and two potential nursing diagnoses, with associated supporting evidence, for a patient in the ODS on this particular day. This paper will conclude with my personal experience, both positive and negative, during
The role of the nurse in the preoperative area is to determine the patient’s psychological status to help with the use of coping during the surgery process. Determine physiologic factors directly or indirectly related to the surgical procedure that may cause operative risk factors. Establish baseline data for comparison in the intraoperative and postoperative period. Participate in the identification and documentation of the surgical site and or side of body on which the procedure is to be performed. Identify prescription drugs, over the counter, and herbal supplements that are taken by the patient that may interact and affect the surgical outcome. Document the results of all preoperative laboratory and diagnostic tests in the patient’s record
One of the many categories would be that of the circulating nurse. Ensuring that the operating room is set up correctly based on the preference of the surgeon, the circulating nurse makes sure all the necessary equipment’s are in place, functioning appropriately, likewise ready to go. In addition, the circulating nurse also verifies the patient identity, surgical site, and consent with the surgeon upon entering the operating room to make sure that they are all the same page, before proceeding with the schedule procedure. Yet another function of the circulating nurse is to make sure that the patient is positioned correctly on the surgical table, hooking up the basic suctions needed, and assisting the anesthesiologist or anesthetist during intubation. Moreover, monitoring the overall condition of the
I went to the operating room on March 23, 2016 for the Wilkes Community College Nursing Class of 2017 for observation. Another student and I were assigned to this unit from 7:30am-2:00pm. When we got their we changed into the operating room scrubs, placed a bonnet on our heads and placed booties over our shoes. I got to observe three different surgeries, two laparoscopic shoulder surgeries and one ankle surgery. While cleaning the surgical room for the next surgery, I got to communicate with the nurses and surgical team they explained the flow and equipment that was used in the operating room.