Page 227 - KNJIGA SAŽETAKA

INOVACIJE I IZAZOVI U OBRAZOVANJU I SESTRINSKOJ SKRBI - KNJIGA SAŽETAKA

The Role of the Nurse in the Care of the Patient with

Surgical Drainage

The nurse's care for the patient with drainage is aimed at alleviating physical symptoms, as well
as preventing and identifying complications. Postoperative patient care requires teamwork to
ensure optimal conditions for surgical wound healing. The patient is in the center of attention,
and the most important role in this is the role of the nurse.
Drainage is a procedure that allows the removal of blood, secretions and waste products from
a surgical wound and body cavities that interfere with wound healing, using drainage, a probe
or a catheter. In addition to evacuating harmful substances from the wound, drainage contributes
to bringing the edges of the wound closer together and thereby affects the healing and closure
of the surgical wound. Drainage can be active or passive, and the means used for drainage vary
depending on the indication for drainage. The nurse's role in caring for a patient with drainage
is to perform procedures that ensure conditions for primary wound healing and infection
prevention. Nurse interventions in the care of a patient with drainage include preparation of
drainage equipment according to the type of drainage (until the patient returns from the
operating room). After the patient has been moved from the operating theater to the hospital
room, the nurse positions the patient properly, observes, measures and records vital signs, and
monitors drainage. Drainage control involves observing, measuring and recording the amount
and appearance of drainage content. In addition, it is necessary to control the dressings of the
surgical wound to detect possible local bleeding, which requires dressing of the surgical wound.
When handling the drain, changing the drainage bottle, or removing the drain, the nurse must
follow all aseptic rules to prevent the possibility of infection. It is necessary for the nurse to
educate the patient about the importance and method of carrying out interventions and agree on
cooperation.
Procedures performed by a nurse in the care of a patient with surgical drainage in the
postoperative course of treatment are specific and contribute to successful treatment. By
involving the patient in the planning and implementation of procedures, their level of
satisfaction and self-esteem increases, which results in the patient's successful recovery.

Key words: nurse, patient, surgical wound, surgical drainage

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