Principles of post-operative patient care

Nurs Stand. 2004 Oct;19(5):43-51; quiz 53. doi: 10.7748/ns2004.10.19.5.43.c3726.

Abstract

Surgery causes physiological stress on the body and carries inherent risks such as shock and haemorrhage. This article discusses cardiogenic and hypovolaemic shock and outlines the principles of safe and effective post-operative care, including recognising hypovolaemia, maintaining fluid balance and administering pain control.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesia / methods
  • Analgesia / nursing
  • Humans
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / nursing
  • Nurse's Role
  • Nursing Assessment / methods
  • Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / nursing
  • Pain, Postoperative / diagnosis
  • Pain, Postoperative / etiology
  • Pain, Postoperative / prevention & control*
  • Perioperative Nursing / methods
  • Postoperative Care* / methods
  • Postoperative Care* / nursing
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnosis
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control*
  • Shock / diagnosis
  • Shock / etiology
  • Shock / prevention & control*
  • Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / diagnosis
  • Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / etiology
  • Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / prevention & control*