You are the nurse receiving report on your patient that was admitted as an emergency earlier in the day. A 64-year-old female underwent a right colectomy. The right side of her colon was removed due to cancer. She has a history of smoking & no other health problems. She is currently being transferred to you in PACU. She has a midline incision with a Penrose drain, a stab wound w/ a Jackson Pratt drain to incision. She also has a NG tube, attached to intermittent suction. She is alert, riented and can move all 4 extremities. BP is 110/68, Respiratory rate is 14, O2 stats are at 93% w/ additional oxygen given via nasal cannula.
All labs are normal. You are asked to change the dressings daily and document the drainage. What precautions will you take to prevent this patient from obtaining a nosocomial infection?
Please answer the questions and develop a care plan for a patient that will be having an elective surgery. Please use the provided format for building your care plan. You will need to use your nursing reference materials as you build this care plan. (Suggestion on using skyscape)
Go to ATI website for care plan – go to integration materials – scroll down to active learning templates – choose systems disorder
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: As a medical professor in charge of creating assignments and evaluating student performance, it is crucial to develop scenarios that test the students’ knowledge and skills in providing patient care. In the following questions, we will provide answers to two different scenarios, one regarding infection control for a post-operative patient and the other on developing a care plan for a patient undergoing elective surgery.
Answer to first content:
To prevent the patient from obtaining a nosocomial infection, the nurse should follow standard precautions such as hand hygiene, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and isolation precautions if the patient has any communicable diseases. The nurse should ensure that all dressings and drains are properly secured and changed daily using sterile technique. The nurse should also monitor the patient’s vital signs, document any drainage, and assess the incision for signs of infection. Additionally, the nurse should ensure that the NG tube is properly secured and functioning, and monitor the patient’s fluid and electrolyte balance.
Answer to second content:
To develop a care plan for a patient undergoing elective surgery, the nurse should assess the patient’s medical history, current medications, allergies, and any preoperative lab results. The nurse should also provide education to the patient about the surgery, postoperative pain management, and deep breathing exercises. The care plan should include preoperative interventions such as administering medications, ensuring the patient is NPO, and preparing the surgical site. Postoperative care should include assessing the patient’s airway, vital signs, pain level, surgical site, and fluid and electrolyte balance. The care plan should also include interventions such as early ambulation, deep breathing exercises, and administering pain medication. Additionally, the nurse should provide education to the patient and their family on wound care, activity restrictions, and follow-up appointments.
