Nursing Assessment and Intervention Before Surgery

Fundamental Review 6-1
Nursing Assessment and Intervention Before Surgery
The nurse assesses for the following during preadmission or upon admission: Baseline physical status Baseline mental status Allergies and sensitivities Signs of abuse or neglect Cultural, emotional, and socioeconomic factors Pain (comprehensive assessment) Medication history, including non-prescription medications and supplements Previous surgeries, complications, and implants Anesthetic history Results of radiologic examinations and other preoperative testing Referrals Physical alterations that require additional equipment or supplies The nurse also: Provides preoperative patient teaching Determines informed consent and/or knowledge of planned procedure Asks about advance directives Develops a plan of care Documents and communicates all information per facility policy Source: From Taylor, C., Lynn, P., & Bartlett, J. (2020). Fundamentals of nursing: The art and science of person-centered care (10th ed.). Wolters Kluwer; Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN). (2020). Guidelines for perioperative practice. https://www.aorn.org/guidelines.