Preparation of post-anaesthetic bed and reception of the patient

Preparation of post-anaesthetic bed and reception of the patient.

After sending the patient to operating room prepare a bed to receive the patient undergone surgery and anaesthesia. ( Refer in Principles and Practice of Nursing Vol. I )

There should be adequate number of people to. transfer the patient without disturbing the functioning of the devices attached with the patient; such as : i.v. infusion set, self retaining suction set, blood transfusion sets, naso-gastric tube, oxygen, urinary catheter, cardiac monitoring, water seal drainage system, plaster casts, traction sets.

Receive the patient without disturbing the devices attached to the patient. The recovery room nurse-incharge may give the necessary instructions to the personnel before transfering the patient.

Ask the theatre staff who has accompanied with the patien about any complications that has occurred in the operation room during surgery.

Before the theatre staff ( including anaesthetist ) return to operation theatre, check the vital signs blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration, colour of the skin and nails for any cyanosis etc. Compare it with the baseline data recorded before sending to operation theatre.

Check the operation site for bleeding, discharge etc., if draina tubes are fitted.

Keep the patient well covered to prevent draught.

Never leave the patient alone to prevent injury from falls.

Observe the patient for swallowing reflexes. If not present, keep the patient in a sidelying position to prevent the tongue falling back and obstructing the airway. After tonsillectomy, the patient may be kept in prone position to prevent blood aspirating in the lungs. The patient who had spinal anaesthesia, the foot it may be raised on bed blocks

Quickly observe the functioning of all devices and make sure that they are in its functioning order e.g., the drainage tubes connected with the drainage bottle, the IV sets are patent.