(b) Check with appropriate department (Internal Medicine or
Cardiology) for EKG readings if not in record.
(c) If the results are not on the health record, call the department
for the report and place the information in the "comments" block. Make an attempt to
locate the written report to place in the health record.
(d) Notify the Charge Nurse or physician immediately of previously
unreported abnormal EKG results.
c.
Final Preparation of the Preoperative Patient. Document compliance on
DD Form 1924 and on SF 510, Nursing Notes.
(1)
Preoperative care. Implement doctor's orders for preoperative care.
(a) Administer an enema the night before surgery, if ordered. An
enema is used to cleanse the colon of fecal material, thus reducing the possibility of
(b) Ensure that the operative site skin prep is done. An operating
room technician or other designated person will clean and shave the area surrounding
the side of the planned incision(s).
1 The skin prep is done to make the skin as free of
microorganisms as possible, thus decreasing the possibility of microorganisms entering
the wound from the skin surface during surgery.
2 A wide area of skin around the site of the incision is shaved
and cleansed to further reduce the possibility of infection.
(2)
Personal hygiene. Assist the patient with personal hygiene and
related care.
(a) Bathe or shower. This is done to remove excess body dirt and
oils. It gives the patient a sense of relaxation. Depending upon the extent of surgery, it
may be several days before a patient may take a "real bath."
(b) Shampoo hair. This is also done for the same reasons as in
the previous paragraph.
(c) Remove nail polish and make-up. During surgery, numerous
areas must be observed carefully for evidence of cyanosis to include the face, lips, and
nail beds. Make-up and nail polish hide true coloration.
MD0915
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