How can the perioperative nurse assess a patient's risk for postoperative complications?

The choice that indicates a comprehensive assessment of a patient's risk for postoperative complications is to evaluate comorbidities, surgical history, and current medications. This approach is essential for several reasons.

Comorbidities, which refer to pre-existing medical conditions, can significantly influence a patient's ability to recover post-surgery. For instance, conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or respiratory diseases can increase the likelihood of complications such as infections, delayed healing, or adverse reactions to anesthesia. Therefore, a thorough understanding of these comorbidities is crucial in assessing risks.

Surgical history also plays a vital role; prior surgeries may affect current surgical outcomes and recovery. For example, a patient with a history of adverse reactions to anesthesia or complications from previous procedures may be at higher risk during subsequent surgeries.

Current medications are equally important to assess. Some medications, such as blood thinners, can increase the risk of bleeding, while others may interact with anesthetic agents or influence healing. Understanding what medications a patient is taking allows the nurse to identify potential complications and prepare adequately.

In contrast, only reviewing the family history provides limited insight into the patient's unique risk factors. Family history can indicate genetic predispositions to certain conditions but does not capture the individual health status or current medications