Question

You are preparing a patient for surgery. Discuss the general preoperative teaching, including respiratory, mobility, and pain interventions. Also include instructions to prevent postoperative complications.

Answer 1

​​​​​Preoperative teaching is an essential step in the preparation of a patient before surgery. A nurse should clearly explain the patient about the surgery ,as well as postoperative care and the postoperative complications. This knowledge will help them to relieve fear and anxiety related to surgery and to prevent postoperative complication.

• Encourage the patients to do deep breathing and coughing exercises as it helps to prevent respiratory complications such as pneumonia and helps in early mobilisation as well as pain management.
• Explain the patient the need for being NPO ( Nil Per Oral) for atleast 8 hours. If the patient is not under NPO means ,it can lead to aspiration.
• Educate the patient about the comfortable positions ,need for change of positions in intervals and the need for early mobilisation as any delay in these can cause pressure sores.
• Explain the patient about the care and handling of wound drainage system and IV lines which helps in early mobilisation.
• Educate the patient about care of surgical wounds and practices for faster recovery.
• Advice the patient to maintain a healthy diet containing fibre rich foods to prevent constipation, a common complication of surgery and also ensure adequate fluid intake.
• Simple exercises of the extremities can also help in early mobilisation by improving circulation.
• Explain the patient about use of comfort devices which may help in pain management.
• Make the patient aware of the analgesics medications for relieving pain.
• Explain and demonstrate the use of pain scale through which we can better understand the pain level of the patient.

Preoperative teaching is not only given for patient but also for their family members, as they also perform a vital role in helping the healing process.