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, oriented 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.
Go to ATI website for care plan – go to integration materials – scroll down to active learning templates – choose systems disorder
Expert Solution Preview
To prevent the patient from obtaining a nosocomial infection, the nurse should follow standard precautions such as wearing gloves, gown, and masks when appropriate. Hand hygiene should always be practiced before and after patient care. The nurse should also ensure that all equipment used for the patient is cleaned and disinfected properly. The environment should be kept clean and free from clutter to prevent the accumulation of bacteria. The nurse should monitor the patient’s vital signs, incision site, and drainage to detect any changes that may indicate infection. Any concerning changes should be reported immediately to the healthcare provider. Proper nutrition and hydration should also be maintained to support the patient’s immune system. Overall, a safe and clean environment is essential for preventing nosocomial infections.
For a patient having an elective surgery, a care plan should be developed to ensure optimal outcomes. The care plan should include pre-operative preparation, intra-operative management, and post-operative care. Pre-operative preparation may include patient education on the surgery, pre-operative labs, and dietary restrictions. Intra-operative management may include monitoring the patient’s vital signs, administering anesthesia, and positioning the patient. Post-operative care may include managing pain and other symptoms, monitoring wound healing, assessing for complications, and patient education on post-operative care. The care plan should be tailored to each patient’s individual needs and preferences to ensure the best possible outcome.
