Lesson 1Anxiety assessment and nonpharmacologic interventions: communication techniques, teaching, relaxation, breathing exercises, use of anxiolyticsDeals with systematic anxiety screening, supportive communication, patient education, relaxation and breathing methods, environment adjustments, and knowing when to use medicines for anxiety while ensuring safety and informed involvement.
Validated anxiety screening toolsBuilding rapport and active listeningPreoperative education and expectationsGuided imagery and relaxation methodsBreathing exercises and coping plansLesson 2Infection prevention and skin prep: chlorhexidine bathing, hair removal policies, antibiotic prophylaxis timing and documentationCovers steps to prevent infections like chlorhexidine baths, hair removal practices, timing and choice of antibiotic prophylaxis, and documentation needs to cut down surgical site infections.
Preoperative chlorhexidine bathingHair removal methods and timingAntibiotic choice and timingMRSA screening and decolonizationDocumentation of prophylaxis stepsLesson 3Pre-transfer safety checks: ID band, verbal identity confirmation, surgical site marking, consent, allergy check, checklist reconciliationOutlines standard pre-transfer safety checks such as identity verification, consent check, surgical site marking, allergy review, and checklist matching to avoid wrong-patient, wrong-site, and paperwork errors.
Two-identifier patient verificationConsent presence and completenessSurgical site marking standardsAllergy and alert band reviewFinal pre-transfer checklist useLesson 4Preoperative laboratory and diagnostic review: glucose, HbA1c, electrolytes, renal function, coagulation, ECG and chest imaging indicationsExplains suitable choice and timing of preoperative tests including glucose, HbA1c, electrolytes, kidney function, clotting tests, ECG, and chest scans, based on patient risks and procedure type.
Indications for serum glucose and HbA1cElectrolytes and renal function panelsCoagulation studies and bleeding riskPreoperative ECG indicationsChest imaging criteria and yieldLesson 5Comprehensive preoperative nursing assessment: vital signs, medication reconciliation, fasting status, functional status, allergies, advanced directivesDescribes a systematic nursing check covering vital signs, medication matching, fasting condition, functional and mental baseline, allergies, and advance directives to guide perioperative planning and handovers.
Baseline vital signs and pain levelMedication reconciliation processVerifying fasting and last intakeFunctional and cognitive assessmentAllergies and advance directivesLesson 6Pre-anesthesia evaluation: airway assessment (Mallampati, neck mobility), anesthesia risk stratification, ASA classificationExamines detailed pre-anesthesia checks, including airway tools, ASA grading, health issues review, functional capacity, and risk grouping to plan anaesthesia and monitoring needs.
Focused pre-anesthesia historyAirway exam and Mallampati scoringNeck mobility and dentition assessmentASA physical status classificationFunctional capacity and risk indicesLesson 7Informed consent verification and legal documentation: elements of consent, capacity checks, interpreter needsClarifies key parts of informed consent, checking decision-making ability, documentation rules, interpreter use, and verification steps for ethical and legal compliance before surgery.
Required elements of consentAssessing capacity and voluntarinessRole of surrogate decision makersUse of interpreters and language accessDocumentation and form reviewLesson 8Fasting and carbohydrate-loading protocols: NPO timing, clear fluid rules, preop carbohydrate drink indicationsExplains research-based fasting times for solids and clear liquids, when to use preoperative carb drinks, and ways to lower aspiration risk while reducing discomfort and insulin resistance.
Standard NPO timing for solidsClear fluid rules and exceptionsCarbohydrate drink indicationsContraindications to carb loadingPatient instructions and adherenceLesson 9Specific assessments for comorbidities: diabetes history, insulin regimen, blood pressure control, cardiovascular risk assessmentTargets checks for major health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease to assess perioperative risk, adjust medicines, and plan monitoring and post-op care.
Detailed diabetes and insulin historyBlood pressure trends and controlCardiovascular risk scoring toolsPulmonary and sleep apnea screeningRenal and hepatic function reviewLesson 10Preoperative medication management: metformin, insulin glargine, ACE inhibitors and perioperative adjustment algorithmsReviews adjustments for metformin, long-acting insulin, and ACE inhibitors around surgery, focusing on timing, dose changes, preventing low sugar, and using simple guides for safe medicine handling.
Risk of metformin and lactic acidosisAdjusting long-acting and basal insulinsManaging ACE inhibitors and ARBsDay-of-surgery medication holding rulesSample perioperative dosing algorithms
