Nursing of Surgical Patient Article 2022

Running Head: NURSING OF SURGICAL PATIENT
Nursing of Surgical Patient
Name of Student:
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NURSING OF SURGICAL PATIENT1
Introduction
Knee replacement is also called knee arthroplasty which is a surgical process for replacing
the weight bearing surfaces of the knee joint to promote relief from pain and disability. It is
observed that majority of the patients resort to normal life performing daily activities
successfully within six weeks of operations (Barrington, Halaszynski & Sinatra, 2014). But it
should be noted that it is a painful process that involves wound healing, swelling and
inflammation even fever due to pain. Effective care plan post operation ensures successful
healing of the patient and also increases the rate of healing with minimal complications
(Dowsey & Choong, 2013). This article deals with a case study of an individual by the name
of Frank Writer, who underwent a left knee surgery and the post-operative care plan for him.
He has certain health complications like hypertension and high cholesterol. He also suffers
from sleep apnoea. And he is also into smoking. This article enlightens on the negative
impact of smoking on health especially intervening with the process of healing and also
causing other risk factors that impact the health of the patient.
Part A: Plan of Care
The recovery as well as the rehabilitation process of total knee replacement program is
complex and plays a crucial role in aiding the individual to get back to normal life resuming
his daily activity. It promotes the efficacy of the surgery and enhances the healing process
(Garson et al., 2014). The vital symptoms like the temperature, the level of consciousness of
consciousness of the patient as well as the neurovascular checks like pulses, capillary
refilling, movement and sensation should be monitored on the affected limb (Nam, Nunley &
Barrack, 2014). This provides the details about cardiovascular status and the initial
indications of complications like infection, fluid volume deficit and immense bleeding. This
should be done in the first 12 to 24 hours.

NURSING OF SURGICAL PATIENT2
Knee replacement surgery can cause certain complications like infections, blood clot in the
leg veins or in the lungs. Individual can be at risk of heart attack and stroke and nerve
damage as well. The symptoms of infection includes fever which is more than 100F, shaking
chills, drainage from the surgical site and enhanced redness, tenderness, swelling as well as
pain in the knee.
Pre-operative medical data of Frank Wright states that he was overweight,
hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea. He was under medication
for decreasing the lipid levels in the blood by being administered simvastatin 40mg. He is
being administered atenolol 50mg to keep his blood pressure level under control. He is also
under medication of ranitidine to reduce acidity issues. He is also into substance abuse of
smoking 10 cigarettes a day.
Frank Wright shows to be agitated post the knee replacement operation as he has low
sedation rate of 1-2. He is also under the risk of acquiring cardiovascular disease post the
operation and proper precautionary measures should be taken. He has a normal respiratory
rate of 12 breath per minute. There is no observable respiratory issue of Frank Wright. He is
slightly feverish as the body temperature monitored is 97.6⁰C.
It is evident that Frank Wright would resort to help in getting out of bed in the first 24
hours post-surgery. The occupational therapist will ensure in setting up a continuous passive
motion (CPM) in the hospital as well as in the home. This machine aids in keeping the knee
in motion to reduce the risk of scar tissue build-up as well as stiffness due to immobility. He
can walk a short distance with assistance of the physical therapist. The physical therapist
should work on the bending and straightening of the knee which means flexing and extending
the knee exploiting the continuous passive motion (CPM).