[military girl]

Hello to all,
I am a med/surg nurse that has been tasked to present an inservice on the management of ortho patients. I don't really have a clue as to what to present. If you were giving an inservice to nurses, what possible topics would you include?
Thanks, I look forward to your responses.

[Beary-nice]

I am not sure what to say as you could go multiple ways with this one:

Complications for ortho pts like DVT, fat emboli, pneumonia, prolonged bedrest complications???

Compartment syndrome???

Pain control?

Different treatments that are used...heat/cold therapy, braces etc???

I am not sure what you are looking for.

[suni]

I would also cover, hip precautions, turning and positioning of patients, anticoagulant treatment and patient education concerning Coumadin. I work an ortho unit, also use of transfer devices, safety and consistentcy with staff when teaching patients.

[P_RN]

How long is this class to be?

I'd do a short form listing the bones etc. Make a handout.
Then I'd head for complications:
from DVT
from compartment syndrome
from fracture complications of casts and traction

I'd go for a list of ortho "specific meds" like warfarin, epidurals, lovenox, etc.

What you would test for (PT/INR, H&H, BMP etc)
and what you would expect if the levels were abnormal.

If you have time go over the current treatment for fractures (and believe it or not it's not "all that traction" much anymore.

Include external fixators and pin care pros and cons.

Go to the Orthopaedic Nurses Association website and browse. home

[sadie58]

How about ambulation toprevent VTE, skin breakdown, pneumonia, etc. Ambulation is critical to the success of many ortho surgeries.