How Can a Skilled Nursing Facility Help After Surgery?
Modern surgery is an amazing advancement in the field of medicine. It allows doctors to repair parts of the body that are injured or failing, so patients can make a full recovery. Minor surgery involves little downtime, but more extensive surgeries can require weeks or even months of healing and rehabilitation. If you have a major surgical procedure planned, you may be able to benefit from a nursing facility afterward. Here are four ways the staff in a skilled nursing facility can care for you post-surgery:
1. Change your bandages.
Wound care is a vital part of a nurse's job. Fresh bandages will keep your surgical site clean, which can prevent infections. A nurse will change your wound dressings at appropriate intervals. While completing this task, they will also monitor your surgical site to ensure it's healing appropriately. If signs of infection or irritation are found, such as pus-like discharge or red, swollen skin, they will alert your doctor.
2. Help you move around.
Your doctor will probably advise you to get up and move around after your surgery. Even if you're still not completely healed, short walks can circulate your blood and promote healing. It can also prevent muscle atrophy and bed sores. Immediately after your procedure, you may need help getting out of bed and going to the restroom. The staff in a nursing facility will help you move around, so you don't fall and hurt yourself.
3. Administer the correct medications.
After your surgery, your doctor will write you a prescription for the appropriate postoperative medication. You will likely be given antibiotics to prevent infection, and you may be given prescription painkillers to keep you comfortable. Antibiotics are most effective when they're taken at precise intervals. After your surgery, you may feel weak and tired. You'll likely want to sleep so your body can heal. A nurse will keep track of your medication schedule for you. They will wake you at appropriate intervals to administer the correct dosage of medication. Effective drug use will help you recover faster so you can go home sooner.
4. Provide physical and occupational therapy.
You may need to relearn how to do certain activities after your surgery. At a nursing facility, the staff's priority is getting you well so you can go home. To that end, they will provide physical and occupational therapy when you have sufficiently recovered. Regaining your strength, little by little, will complete your postoperative recovery.