k.
When the patient is cleared by the surgeon, call the receiving nursing unit
and give the report. Include the following information.
(1)
Patient's name.
(2)
Type of surgery.
(3)
Update of care in the recovery room.
(4)
Mental alertness.
(5)
Time of vital signs and results.
(6)
Interaction with family in the recovery room.
(7)
Presence, type, and functioning of drainage tubes, IV, etc.
(8)
If patient has voided or not.
l.
Record all of the above information on SF 510, Nursing Notes (see Figure
3-6). Transfer the patient per recovery room SOP.
Section III. SUCTIONING THE PATIENT IN THE RECOVERY ROOM
3-6.
ADMINISTERING ORAL/NASAL SUCTIONING TO THE RECOVERY ROOM
PATIENT
a.
Oral/nasal suctioning is suctioning of the upper airway passages of the
nose, mouth, and pharynx. This procedure is used to assist the patient in eliminating
secretions before he has regained full consciousness and cannot spit out secretions.
The catheter used should be soft and pliable. When you employ suctioning, you must
make every effort to prevent the introduction of pathogens (disease causing
microorganisms) into the lower airways. Normally, countless microorganisms are found
in the upper respiratory tract and it is virtually impossible to maintain sterility when
suctioning the nose or pharynx. Clean technique and thorough handwashing are
essential for pharyngeal suctioning of the oral and nasal cavities, but aseptic technique
is mandatory for deep suctioning in the tracheobronchial tree and for the intubated
patient.
MD0915
3-11