DURING THE PAST CENTURY, life expectancy in the United States has increased as a result of improved sanitation, development of vaccines and treatments for childhood diseases, and vast improvements in health care and disease prevention.
OLDER ADULTS ARE AT HIGHER RISK than younger individuals for complications during and after surgery. Carefully planned, effective nursing care during the perioperative period will help reduce surgical morbidity in older adults.
AGE-SPECIFIC NURSING CARE techniques that are provided during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of a surgical experience are discussed in this article, with a particular focus on how to manage pain and prevent infection.
indicates that continuing education contact hours are available for this activity. Earn the contact hours by reading this article and taking the examination on pages 571–572 and then completing the answer sheet and learner evaluation on pages 573–574.
The behavioral objectives and examination for this program were prepared by Rebecca Holm, RN, MSN, CNOR, clinical editor, with consultation from Susan Bakewell, RN, MS, BC, director, Center for Perioperative Education. Ms Holm and Ms Bakewell have no declared affiliations that could be perceived as potential conflicts of interest in publishing this article.
This program meets criteria for CNOR and CRNFA recertification, as well as other continuing education requirements.
AORN is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
AORN is provider-approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 13019. Check with your state board of nursing for acceptance of this activity for relicensure.
1Judith L. Clayton, RN, CNOR, is an RN clinician at Gwinnett Health System, Lawrenceville, GA. Ms Clayton has no declared affiliation that could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest in publishing this article.
ABSTRACT
indicates that continuing education contact hours are available for this activity. Earn the contact hours by reading this article and taking the examination on pages 571–572 and then completing the answer sheet and learner evaluation on pages 573–574.