Care of the Adult Patient Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Care of the Adult Patient - Assignment Example Aside from giving the patient the opportunity to ask questions concerning his treatment and care, it is equally important to know that the patient is physically, psychologically, and socially fit to undergo the surgical procedure (Holland and Chady, 2012; Pudner, 2005). Often times, the process of conducting social assessment is essential in preparation for the patient’s discharge planning (Holland and Chady, 2012). Psychological assessment is normally conducted to ensure that the patient is mentally and psychologically fit to undergo laparotomy whereas the physical assessment is often conducted to ensure that the patient is physically healthy before undergoing the surgical procedure. Due to peritoneal irritation, patients with small bowel obstruction are at risks of experiencing restlessness. Because of the sudden decrease in the patient’s intravascular volume or septic shock, there are cases wherein patients with small bowel obstruction may experience hypovolemia which includes hypotension or tachycardia (Rosenthal, Zenilman and Katlic, 2011). Patients with diabetes are at risks of experiencing high blood pressure and heart diseases (Dillon, 2007, p. 32). Therefore, it is crucial that the physical assessment should include examining the patient’s vital signs such as blood pressure and heart rate. Patients with small bowel obstruction may also experience having fever (Dillon, 2007, p. 603). This is possible because of the abnormalities that are taking place within the human body. Therefore, a significant part of the physical assessment should include taking the patient’s body temperature. Patients with either partial or at the early stage of small bowel obstruction normally have stool or air within the colon (Norton et al., 2003). To detect signs of air and masses, it is necessary on the part of the nurses to perform physical abdominal exam such as the abdominal palpation (Dillon, 2007, p. 17, 64). To