Question

Mr, Owen is a 62-year-old man underwent a neck dissection yesterday due to cancer of the mouth. You are the nurse assigned to care for Mr. Owens during his first postoperative day. Initial assessment finds Mr. Owens sitting up in bed: he is drowsy, but not appear to be in respiratory distress. His respiratory rate is 16 to 18, and his oxygen saturation is 96% on 40% oxygen via face tent. He has two peripheral IV lines both infusing Lactated Ringer's solution at 75 ml/hr. Two Jackson Pratt drainage tubes are partially filled with serosanguinous drainage, (Learning Objective 5)

Answer 1

The following nursing care will be needed for a post op day 1 patient after a neck dissection surgery are

• Monitor vital signs of the patient as it gives the baseline information about the patient after surgery and plan for care
• Assess for any leakage,pain swelling (+) settles in 1 to 2 weeks at the incision site
• Assess for the quantity of drain to know how the extra fluids are excreted
• Do not mobilize the patient as patient will be still in the effect of anaesthesia
• propped up position to ensure drainage and prevent swelling
• Start clear liquids as per order
• Administer analgesics, anti emetics,antibiotics as per order