Medical Surgical Nursing: Interventions, Post-Op Care, Complications, Procedures

Medical Surgical: Focus on Nursing Interventions, Post-Operative Care, Complications Management, Common Surgical Procedures, and Perioperative Nursing

Medical surgical nursing involves caring for patients before, during, and after surgery. It entails coordinating communication, ensuring policy compliance, and performing surgical procedures such as making incisions, cauterizing, suctions, retention, and suturing under the supervision of surgeons. Registered Nurse First Assistants (RNFAs) and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice roles that play a vital role in surgical teams.

Nursing Interventions

The role of the circulating nurse includes managing patient flow, ensuring proper positioning, and coordinating with the entire perioperative team. Scrub nurses are responsible for providing assistance in the sterile field, while RNFA duties involve performing specific surgical tasks. Both roles require extensive knowledge of surgical procedures.

Post-Operative Care

Post-operative care varies depending on the type of anesthesia and surgical procedure. It focuses on airway permeability, hemodynamic stability, pain management, and preventing complications. Most post-operative care now occurs at home, promoting outpatient surgery and self-care, requiring expert knowledge in surgical recovery.

Complications Management

Complication management involves addressing issues such as hypoalbuminemia, which can predict mortality in spine surgery, and optimizing wound healing by understanding infection rates following posterior lumbar fusion.

Common Surgical Procedures

Common surgical procedures range from orthopedic spinal surgeries like lumbar discectomy to gastrointestinal operations like fundoplication or cholecystectomy. These procedures require specialized knowledge and post-operative care to ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Perioperative Nursing

Perioperative nursing covers both preoperative outpatient care, starting when patients determine to undergo surgery, and preoperative nursing visits, initiated upon hospital admission. Systematic perioperative nursing programs aim to address psychological issues and improve patient care by reducing complications and accelerating recovery.