Editing Medical-Surgical Nursing (section)

=== Preoperative Care ===

Verify that informed consent is signed, that the patient understands the procedure, and that the surgeon, not the nurse, obtained the consent; the nurse witnesses the signature and confirms understanding. Confirm allergies, current medications including anticoagulants, herbal products, and diabetes agents, the nothing by mouth status, and the removal of jewelry, dentures, and prostheses per policy. Verify the site marking and participate in the surgical time-out.

Preoperative teaching that reduces complications includes coughing and deep breathing, incentive spirometry, splinting the incision with a pillow, leg exercises, early ambulation, and how to rate and report pain.