When a person has surgery, there’s a period of time after they come out of anesthesia when they need to be monitored closely. The nursing staff members who are doing this must be very watchful or they risk the patient having problems.
There are several things that must be monitored during this time. The patient’s vital signs have to be watched, and the surgical wound has to be checked.
What can happen when patients aren’t properly monitored?
The most serious thing that can happen when patients aren’t monitored is that they can die. This can come from several reasons, including changes in heart rhythm or problems with breathing. Infection is another risk that’s possible if the medical care team isn’t watching for signs such as redness around the incision site or fever.
Patients must also receive proper instructions on what they need to watch for after a surgical procedure. It isn’t enough for the nurse to just hand them a piece of paper with the instructions. Instead, they need to be shown and taught what they should do. The post-surgical instructions for home need to be reviewed with the patient in a language that they understand.
Another considerable issue that comes up sometimes is that hospitals try to rush patients out the door – and out of their care. This might be due to insurance coverage issues, but it’s never appropriate for a medical facility to discharge a patient if they know the patient can’t handle their post-operative needs.
Anyone who’s suffered an injury because of improper monitoring should seek compensation for their injuries and losses. When post-surgical care isn’t handled properly, patients pay the price — and legal action may be the only way to hold the negligent parties accountable for their actions.