Short concise answers to patient questions?

KelRN215, BSN, RN · May 21, 2013

Why do I need to be NPO?

"You are having surgery in the morning. You cannot eat or drink anything for 8 hours before anesthesia."

Why do I need an IV?

Well... why does this person need an IV? "We will be giving you fluids or medication in it."

When will they take the IV out?

"Before you go home."

Why do I have to take x, y, z medication?

"You are being given Colace post-operatively as a stool softener."

"You are being given ancef for three doses post-operatively to prevent infection."

"We will give you Toradol to control your pain."

Why do I need a foley?

"Foleys are placed in the OR for surgeries lasting longer than X hours."

Perhaps, the patient will be on activity restrictions or something. For example "After your spinal surgery, you will have to lie flat and prone for 24 hours so you will not be able to get up to use the bathroom."

Why am I on isolation?

"You have an infection called MRSA, VRE, C-Diff, etc that could easily spread to other patients."

When are they going to let me eat?

"After surgery."

tsm007 · May 21, 2013

Hey, that was pretty good KelRN215! I add too much extra stuff. Thanks.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 21, 2013

Why do I need to be NPO?
"You are having surgery in the morning. You cannot eat or drink anything for 8 hours before anesthesia."
This is so you have an empty stomach and won't vomit while you are under anesthesia or feel nauseated after you wake up.
Why do I need an IV?
Well... why does this person need an IV? "We will be giving you fluids or medication in it." ...while you can't take anything by mouth or because these medicines work best given IV rather than orally.
When will they take the IV out?
"Before you go home." ...although we may leave it in and turn the constant fluids off when you are able to take things by mouth without problems, so we can still give you those IV meds.
Why do I have to take x, y, z medication?
"You are being given Colace post-operatively as a stool softener."
"You are being given ancef for three doses post-operatively to prevent infection."
"We will give you Toradol to control your pain."
Why do I need a foley?
"Foleys are placed in the OR for surgeries lasting longer than X hours."... we can monitor your urine output carefully. That tells us a lot about how well you are doing. When you can get up to the toilet/commode/use a bedpan, we can remove it.
Perhaps, the patient will be on activity restrictions or something. For example "After your spinal surgery, you will have to lie flat and prone for 24 hours so you will not be able to get up to use the bathroom."
Why am I on isolation?
"You have an infection called MRSA, VRE, C-Diff, etc that could easily spread to other patients."
When are they going to let me eat?
"After surgery,when your gut wakes up from anesthesia. We'll know by listening to your belly for gurgles and you can tell us when you start to pass gas."

I have inserted my addenda above because I have never figured out how to fractionate a post for quoting.

:)