Question

1. Pearl Richards, 69 years of age, is a female patient who is in the operating room for a repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The patient has a history of hypertension controlled with medications, osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and has smoked two packs of cigarettes per day for 40 years. (Learning Objectives 2, 6, and 9)        

What nursing interventions are instituted to reduce the surgical risk factors related to the patient’s age?

Explain the role of the nurse in providing patient safety measures during the intraoperative period.

Answer 1

The nursing interventions to reduce the surgical risk factors related to the patients age and also the medical history are:

• Monitor the vital signs continously as the patient has hypertension
• Note for any tenderness in the abdomen and observe for any signs of any rupture or rashes.
• Obtain information of any back and abdominal pain and also for any other pains in other sites.
• Patient should be asked for any sensation of palpation in the abdomen.
• Inspect the skin for any vascular diseases or any breakdown.
• as the patient has Copd and osteoporosis ,the medication history and regular check for any decreased or increased cardiac outputs.

Role of nurse in providing patient safety measures during the intraoperative period:

• Older people are more susceptible to temeperature changes so nurses should make sure by maintaining the constant room temperature.
• signs for dehydration,constipation and malnutrition are to be checked.
• Ensure the patient safety and stabilise the vital signs.
• Recognise and manage complications as early as possible.
• Maintain aseptic environment and provide surgeon with supplies and instruments.
• Documentation should be done at that moment which is observed by the doctor and recorded by the nurses.