What is the key nursing responsibility during the preoperative assessment?

• A. To ensure all surgical instruments are prepared
• B. To collect comprehensive health information and identify potential risks
• C. To schedule the surgery
• D. To inform the patient about post-operative care

Answer: (B)

The key nursing responsibility during the preoperative assessment is to collect comprehensive health information and identify potential risks. This stage is crucial for ensuring patient safety and optimizing outcomes. By gathering detailed medical history, including past surgeries, allergies, comorbidities, medications, and family health history, the nurse can assess the patient’s overall health status and determine any potential complications that may arise during or after surgery.

Understanding these factors helps the surgical team to plan appropriately, anticipate potential issues, and provide tailored care for each patient. Adequate assessment allows nurses to communicate essential information to the rest of the surgical team and facilitates informed decision-making regarding anesthesia and surgical techniques. This proactive approach is vital in minimizing risks and enhancing patient safety in the perioperative environment.