What is a nursing priority when caring for a patient post-surgery?

In the context of post-surgical care, monitoring for signs of infection and managing pain is a crucial nursing priority. After surgery, patients are often at an increased risk for complications, including infections due to surgical incisions and the effects of anesthesia on the body. Nurses play a vital role in assessing the surgical site for any signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, warmth, or discharge, and are responsible for implementing interventions if these signs are present.

Additionally, effective pain management is essential for post-operative recovery. Uncontrolled pain can hinder a patient's ability to engage in mobility and deep breathing exercises, which are important for preventing complications like pneumonia and promoting overall healing. By monitoring pain levels and adjusting pain management strategies accordingly, nurses can help ensure that patients have a more comfortable recovery, which can also improve outcomes related to their surgical procedure.

While other activities, such as encouraging deep breathing exercises, initiating physical therapy, and completing discharge paperwork, are also important components of post-operative care, they are secondary to the immediate need to prevent infection and manage pain effectively in the early recovery phase. Prioritizing infection monitoring and pain management lays the foundation for the patient's overall recovery process.