Receiving a patient to the ward from PACU
Introduction
Nurses have a duty to ensure that patients receive quality care to enhance their recovery.
Patients have to understand assessment procedures and interventions as they provide care to
patients that have come from post anesthesia care unit (PACU) with abdominal pain and PCA.
This paper is a reflection on the role and behaviors of nurses that receive patient in the ward from
PACU behave. It as well deliberates on various aspects relating to communication and post op
orders among others.
In this video, nurses in charge of the patient performed various assessments to ensure that
the patient was in a stable condition. On arrival in the PACU the nurse re-evaluated the patient
and provided a verbal report to the nurse in charge. The nurses recorded the vital signs and blood
oxygenation saturation every after a duration of time. They also assessed the blood pressure,
pulse rate and respiratory rate of the patient. They as well measured the patient temperature. The
nurses as well monitored on various aspects such as pain, central venous pressure and
intracranial pressure. The nurse as well checked whether the patient was breathing normally.
The nurses checked the blood pressure of the patient using a blood pressure cuff to ensure the
she was in a stable condition. They also placed a warm blanket around the body of the patient to
enhance warmth. They also checked and assessed the condition of the bandages on the areas of
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the body that had injuries such as the legs and the abdominal to ensure that they were in better
condition. They also ensured that the patient controlled analgesia (PCA) used for pain control
was functioning well. The patient uses the PCA to self-dose pain-relieving medication by
pushing a bottom. The PCA is computerized to provide small pain dosage. The assessments
conducted on the patients were prioritized to ensure that the patient recover well.
These assessments were adequately prioritized because the nurse in charge complied with
the requirements on how patients from PACU should be treated. The nurses had assembled and
correctly completed documentation to provide insights on the progress of the patient. There were
a lengthy discussions and directives between the two nurses. The other nurse from PACU on the
status of the patient briefed the receiving nurse and kept on directing and assisting the ward
nurses on the procedures. The handover was therefore done well hence contributing to proper
assessments by the receiving nurse.
Communication is one of the most important aspects when providing care to patients.
Through communication, people get to understand one another and help to create a conducive
environment to work as a team. The communication between the nurses was effective as they
worked together as a team. They were audible in their conversation and allowed each one to
speak before one could interrupt. This therefore enhanced their level of communication. They
also listened keenly to one another and followed directives as given. They also maintained good
eye contact and used gestures sparingly to bolster their communication something that made
them to move on the save level. Communication promoted teamwork since they understood their
role in providing care to the patients and this minimized conflicts but instead helped them to
provide quality services to the patient (Reynolds, 2010). The receiving nurse in the conversation
asked various orders about the patient receiving care. One of them is how the patient is feeling,
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what medication should be given, the period to give meals, and how to carryout assessment of
the chest and the bandaged leg.
Communication between a nurse and patient is also very important in promoting
understanding and delivery of care. In this video, the communication between the nurses and the
patient was effective. The nurses already had established a conducive environment that made the
patient feel at home. The tone of voice, facial persons and body gestures of the nurses helped to
create siren environment for negotiation (Milby, Bohmer, Gerbershagen, Joppich & Wappler,
2014). Even though communication between the nurses and the patient was sparingly, it was
successful. The patient responded to the queries the nurses asked which helped to gain an in
depth understanding about how she was feeling. She also was able to receive advice that the
nurses gave to her as she laid on her bed.
This interaction between the nurses themselves and the nurses and the patients is
supported by Virginia Henderson Needs theory. The theory has three major assumptions that
pertain to nursing; nurses have a duty to provide care to patient until the patient is able to care for
themselves (Risjord, 2014). Nurses should always be willing to serve; should therefore devote to
their patients every time and nurses should have a certain level of education such as bachelor’s
degree in science and art to serve as a nurse (Im, &Ju Chang, 2012). The nurses in the movies
showed their devotion and dedication in providing their support to ensure that a patient recovers.
Their assessments and interventions is a clear indication of their readiness to help patients to
recover. Furthermore, the nurses through their interactions and intervention, it is evident that
they have requisite skills and experience to offer the services they provided.
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There are a number of post-operative orders that manifest in the video as the nurse
provided care to the patient. The patient had vital signs that indicated that she had been through
PACU. She was lying on the bed and had bandages covered on the areas with wounds such as
the chest and the leg. She also had PCA to control her pain. The nurses as well had a file
containing laboratory investigations about the patient condition and status. The nurses discussed
about these issues and how they should be controlled and checked. The nurses as well provided
advice on the period the patient was supposed to wait before being given a meal.
Based on the available literature, one recommendation that require improvement for future
practice is ensuring that the patient is under continuous surveillance and care. Nurses should
provide all sorts of care including psychological care to enhance recovery of the patient (Phillips,
Street, Kent & Cadeddu, 2014). The focus should not be on the physical care as sometimes
patients are mentally affected and are therefore affected when they are discharged. This will go
greater miles in ensuring quick recovery of the patient. It is also important to uphold to ethical
standards at all time when rendering health care to patients. Nurses should be respectful and be
honest.
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References
Im, E., & Ju Chang, S. (2012). Current Trends in Nursing Theories. Journal of Nursing
Scholarship, 44(2),156-164.
Milby, A., Bohmer, A., Gerbershagen, M., Joppich, R., &Wappler, F. (2014).Quality of post-
operative patient handover in the post-anaesthesia care unit: a prospective analysis. Acta
Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, 58(2), 192-197.
Phillips, N., Street, M., Kent, B., & Cadeddu, M. (2014).Determining criteria to assess patient
readiness for discharge from post-anaesthetic care: an international Delphi study. Journal
of Clinical Nursing, 23(23/24), 3345-3355.
Reynolds, J. (2010). The nurse-patient relationship in the post-anaesthetic care unit. Nursing
Standard, 24(15), 40-46.
Risjord, M. (2014). Nursing and human freedom. Nursing Philosophy, 15( 1), 35-45.