Reflection
To protect the identity of my patient who I met with during my placement, I named her as Mrs Sawyer. This is due to confidentiality (NMBA, 2008b). When I arrived at the ward at 7:00 am, the registered nurse gave us her handover report about Mrs Sawyer condition. I learnt that Mrs Sawyer was admitted to the orthopaedic ward with a right neck of femur and right now she is recovering after surgery. I’ve also learned that Mrs Sawyer was unsettled and complained of pain during the night. At 8:00 am, Mrs Sawyer called out to me and said that she feels dull pain at the surgical site and it also radiated to her knee. Walking up to her, I saw that she was pale and drown in appearance. To identify and eliminate any underlying condition that …show more content…
Taking all the information and findings such as pain rate 5-8, appearance, slightly elevated blood pressure and temperature into account, it was evident that the priority problem is Mrs Sawyer’s acute pain, which caused by inadequate post-operative pain relief. To reduce Mrs Sawyer’s pain in line with opioid consumption IV paracetamol, cold therapy and PCA education was provided. In addition to these interventions, alternative opioid-sparing techniques such as the administration of NSAIDS could also have been useful as they are efficient in reducing mild to moderate pain, Morphine consumption, and its side effects (Garimella & Cellini, 2013). However, these agents are inhibiting the COX enzyme, which can affect the clotting factors of the blood and lead to an increased risk of bleeding (Garimella & Cellini, 2013). In consideration of this information and the fact that Mrs Sawyer received anticoagulant therapy, these agents may not have been suitable as they could have caused additional complications (Garimella & Cellini, 2013). Overall, various agents, opioids and non-opioids and modes such as PCA for the treatment of acute postoperative pain exists. However, their effectiveness and side effects can greatly differ (Garimella &
To protect the identity of my patient who I met with during my placement, I named her as Mrs Sawyer. This is due to confidentiality (NMBA, 2008b). When I arrived at the ward at 7:00 am, the registered nurse gave us her handover report about Mrs Sawyer condition. I learnt that Mrs Sawyer was admitted to the orthopaedic ward with a right neck of femur and right now she is recovering after surgery. I’ve also learned that Mrs Sawyer was unsettled and complained of pain during the night. At 8:00 am, Mrs Sawyer called out to me and said that she feels dull pain at the surgical site and it also radiated to her knee. Walking up to her, I saw that she was pale and drown in appearance. To identify and eliminate any underlying condition that …show more content…
Taking all the information and findings such as pain rate 5-8, appearance, slightly elevated blood pressure and temperature into account, it was evident that the priority problem is Mrs Sawyer’s acute pain, which caused by inadequate post-operative pain relief. To reduce Mrs Sawyer’s pain in line with opioid consumption IV paracetamol, cold therapy and PCA education was provided. In addition to these interventions, alternative opioid-sparing techniques such as the administration of NSAIDS could also have been useful as they are efficient in reducing mild to moderate pain, Morphine consumption, and its side effects (Garimella & Cellini, 2013). However, these agents are inhibiting the COX enzyme, which can affect the clotting factors of the blood and lead to an increased risk of bleeding (Garimella & Cellini, 2013). In consideration of this information and the fact that Mrs Sawyer received anticoagulant therapy, these agents may not have been suitable as they could have caused additional complications (Garimella & Cellini, 2013). Overall, various agents, opioids and non-opioids and modes such as PCA for the treatment of acute postoperative pain exists. However, their effectiveness and side effects can greatly differ (Garimella &