How to Help Patients Cope with A Surgical Procedure...

Whether a surgical procedure is perceived as minor or major by healthcare providers, it can be a significant, life-changing event for the patient. Nurses play an essential role in assessing and intervening to help maintain the patient's self-concept and identity after surgery. 🏥 Showing Support..

 Nurses can greatly influence how patients perceive their surgical experience, their body image, and the speed and effectiveness of their recovery. 💪

To assist patients in coping with surgery, consider the following strategies:

- Preoperative Changes: Patients must often remove their clothing, alter their usual appearance by taking off makeup, nail polish, and jewelry, and don an unfamiliar hospital gown and caps. This stark change can be disorienting. 😳

- Postoperative Appearance: After surgery, patients may look drastically different due to swelling, drooling, dry mouth, or the presence of drains and dressings. The inability to perform basic activities, like getting out of bed, can heighten feelings of vulnerability. 😓

- Emotional Impact: Surgery can be particularly hard for individuals who are generally independent and take pride in their appearance. This experience may have a lasting effect on their self-image. 😔

- Long-Term Considerations: If a patient faces long-term changes to their self-concept, nurses must stay vigilant in assessing any related behaviors. Indicators that a patient is struggling with body image issues can include avoiding mirrors, not checking their incisions, or refusing visitors. 👀

- Future Concerns: Patients may also worry about their ability to return to work, care for their families, or engage in activities they once enjoyed. Nurses need to engage patients in discussions about these concerns and refer them to social workers or psychologists if needed. 🏡

- Family Involvement: The patient’s family is crucial in evaluating and supporting the patient's self-concept throughout the recovery process. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

- Preoperative Assessment: Conducting thorough preoperative assessments can help nurses monitor any changes in the patient's self-concept resulting from surgery. 🔍

Here are some nursing actions to support patients in managing their self-concept:  

- Ensure the patient's privacy. 🤫  

- Maintain personal hygiene and cleanliness. 🧼  

- Regularly empty drains. 🚰  

- Keep the patient's environment tidy and organized. 🧹  

- Openly discuss any concerns with the patient. 🗣️  

- Communicate with the family to provide support as they assist their loved one. 🤝

**References**  

Source Site-https://www.learningnurse.org/index.php/e-learning/nuggetshttps://corewoodcare.com/news/supporting-loved-ones-after-surgery/  https://www.vnshealth.org/homecare/after-surgery-care/

Credit-Marcucci, L. (Ed.). (2010). Avoiding Common Nursing Errors. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

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Preoperative Medications.....

Overview
One of the important events during the preoperative phase of the surgical experience is the administration of preoperative medications. Not only are anesthetics administered during this time, but so as drugs that minimizes respiratory tract secretions. Medicating the client pre-procedure to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation may also be necessary.
Medication History
Before discussing about the preoperative medications that are used the nurse should obtain a medication history. This eliminates the possible life-threatening effects of drug interactions and allergic reactions to certain medications. During a medication history the following are done:

• Document any medication the patient is using or has used in the past including over-the-counter (OTC) preparations and the frequency with which they are taken.
• The anesthesiologist evaluates the potential effects of prior medication therapy and considers the length of time the patient has used the medications, the patient himself and the nature of the proposed surgery.
  

Medications that cause particular concerns are the following:
Adrenal corticosteroids

1. DO NOT discontinue these drugs abruptly before the surgery.
2. If discontinued abruptly, the patient may suffer from cardiovascular collapse is he or she has been taking steroids for some time.
3. Before and after the surgery, a bolus of steroid may be administered intravenously immediately.

Diuretics
During anesthesia administration, thiazide diuretics may cause excessive respiratory depression from an associated electrolyte imbalance.
Phenothiazines
These medications may increase the hypotensive action of anesthetics
Antidepressants
Anesthetics have a hypotensive effect on the patient. Monoamine Oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs increase the hypotensive effects of anesthetics.
Tranquilizers
If medications such as diazepam, barbiturates and chlordiazapoxide are withdrawn suddenly anxiety, tension and even seizures may result.

Insulin
When a patient undergoing a surgery is diabetic, interaction between anesthetics and insulin must be considered.
Antibiotics
Neomycin, kanamycin and other “MYCIN” drugs may present problems when these medications are combined with a curariform muscle relaxation. Interruption of nerve transmission may occur and apnea due to respiratory paralysis may result when these drugs are combined.

Additional Source: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/284801-overview#aw2aab6b8