Surgical nursing

Surgical nursing

Surgical patients (those who have undergone a minor or major surgical procedure) are nursed on different wards to medical patients in the UK and Australia. Nursing practice on surgical wards differs from that of medical wards.

Surgical nurses may practice in different types of surgery:

*General surgery (e.g. appendicectomy, gallbladder removal)
*Vascular surgery (e.g. varicose vein surgery, aortic aneurysm repair)
*Colo-rectal surgery (e.g. stoma formation)
*Surgical Oncology (e.g. breast surgery, tumour resections)
*Orthopaedic surgery (e.g. knee or hip replacements, fracture repair)
*Urolological surgery (e.g. prostate surgery)
*Day surgery (or ambulatory surgery, where a patient is discharged within 24 hours)

Surgical nurses are responsible for approximately six patients, depending on the nature of the surgical ward. Intensive Care and High-Dependency units usually have one to two nurses per patient.

The Duties of a Surgical Nurse

Pre-operatively:

Preparation of patients for their procedure involves ensuring pre-medication is administered, the patient/guardian has given written consent, the required blood-tests have been done, identifcation lables and identification bracelets are correct, all allergies have been recorded in the patient's notes and that the patient has been fasted appropriately.

Post-Operatively:

Post-operatively the patient must be closely observed for signs of shock, arrest. The surgical nurse also ensures the wound created by the surgery is intact, and must be knowledgeable in wound care and the care of surgical drains. Surgical Nurses are responsible for the management of pain and post-operative nausea and vomiting, which are common post-operative side effects. The surgical nurse is also responsible for the discharge of the patient and giving the patient information on support systems and measures necessary to their recovery.

Surgical Nursing Credentials

To become a surgical nurse, one must have undertaken appropriate training, and be registered with the state nursing board (Nursing and Midwifery Council, UK; An Bord Altranais, Rep. of Ireland). In Australia, both Registered Nurses and Enrolled Nurses work in surgical wards. [ Surgical Nursing 12th ed. (1997) Torrance & Serginson (Bailliere Tindall)]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Medical-surgical nursing — is a nursing specialty area concerned with the care of adult patients in a broad range of settings. The Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses (AMSN) is a specialty nursing organization dedicated to nurturing medical surgical nurses as they advance… …   Wikipedia

  • Medical surgical nursing certification — Medical surgical nurses who meet eligibility requirements and successfully pass a multiple choice exam become certified. Medical surgical nursing certification (and recertification) is offered by two organizations in the US: The Medical Surgical… …   Wikipedia

  • Nursing credentials and certifications — A nurse s postnominal (listed after the name) credentials usually follow his or her name in this order: Highest earned academic degree in or related to nursing (e.g. MSN ) Nursing licensure (e.g. RN ) Nursing certification (e.g. CCRN ) Generally… …   Wikipedia

  • Nursing — For other uses, see Nursing (disambiguation). Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death.… …   Wikipedia

  • Nursing in the United States — Contents 1 Education 2 Legal regulation 3 Types of nurses 4 …   Wikipedia

  • nursing — [nʉr′siŋ] n. 1. the duties or profession of a nurse 2. the medical care given by a nurse * * * nurs·ing (nûrʹsĭng) n. 1. The profession of a nurse. 2. The tasks or care of a nurse. * * * Health care profession providing physical and emotional… …   Universalium

  • Nursing theory — is the term given to the body of knowledge that is used to define or explain various aspects of the profession of nursing. Contents 1 Types of nursing theories [1] 1.1 Grand nursing theories 1.2 Mid range nursing theories …   Wikipedia

  • Nursing in the United Kingdom — has a long history, but in its current form probably dates back to the era of Florence Nightingale, who initiated schools of nursing in the latter part of the 19th and early 20th centuries. During the latter part of the 20th century, increases in …   Wikipedia

  • Nursing assessment — is the gathering of information about a patient s physiological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual status. Contents 1 Stage one of the nursing process 2 Components of a nursing assessment 2.1 Nursing history …   Wikipedia

  • Nursing research — is the term used to describe the evidence used to support nursing practice. Nursing, as an evidence based area of practice, has been developing since the time of Florence Nightingale to the present day, where many nurses now work as researchers… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”