SECTION I. PREOPERATIVE PATIENT CARE
8-3.
NURSING IMPLICATIONS
a. Patients are admitted to the health care facility for surgical intervention from a
variety of situations and in various physical conditions. The nurse is responsible for
completion of preoperative forms, implementing doctor's orders for preoperative care, and
documentation of all nursing measures.
b. The following nursing implications are related to preparing a patient for surgery.
(1) Prepare the patient's chart using DD Form 1924, Surgical Check List
(figure 8-1). DD Form 1924 contains the following information:
(a)
Space for the patient's identification.
(b)
A checklist for pertinent clinical records.
(c) A space for recording the most current set of vital signs taken prior to
(d)
A space to indicate allergies.
(e)
A space to document all preoperative nursing measures.
(f) A space to document any comment that indicates something very
special about this particular patient (for example, removal of prosthesis, patient hard of
hearing).
(g) A space for signature of release by the registered nurse when all
actions are completed.
(2) Ensure completion of SF 522, Request for Administration of Anesthesia
and for Performance of Operations and Other Procedures (figure 8-2).
(a) SF 522 is a legal document, which satisfies requirement of informed
consent. A surgical consent form must be signed by the patient before surgery can be
performed.
(b) It must be signed by the physician and anesthesiologist to indicate
that all risks of surgery and anesthesia have been fully explained to the patient.
MD0906
8-5