Preoperative assessment is of key importance in ensuring patient safety and optimising surgical outcomes. Nurses play a central role in the preoperative assessment process in advocating for patients and identifying care needs and risk factors. This article will discuss the importance of preoperative assessment in ensuring patient safety and optimising surgical outcomes in Ireland. It will also highlight the role of preoperative assessment in improving communication between healthcare professionals and enabling patients to make informed decisions about their care.  

The preoperative assessment is a critical aspect of patient care that ensures patient safety and optimises surgical outcomes.¹ It provides healthcare professionals with the information they need to identify any medical or surgical conditions that may increase the risk of complications during or after the surgical procedure.¹ This assessment involves a thorough evaluation of the patient’s medical history, physical examination, laboratory testing, and diagnostic imaging studies.¹ Preoperative assessment is conducted by a team of healthcare professionals, including anaesthesiologists, surgeons, nurses, and other members of the healthcare team.

Optimising surgical outcomes

According to the National Consent Policy of Ireland, informed consent is an essential aspect of the patient-doctor relationship, involving providing patients with information about the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a proposed medical intervention.² The preoperative assessment provides healthcare professionals with an opportunity to discuss the surgical procedure with the patient, including the risks and benefits associated with the procedure.² This allows patients to make informed decisions about their care, ensuring that they are fully informed about the potential risks and benefits of the surgical procedure.

The HSE Model of Care for Pre-assessment Units in Ireland emphasises that preoperative assessment allows healthcare professionals to identify any potential risks associated with the surgical procedure, improving patient outcomes.³ For example, patients with underlying medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, or diabetes are at higher risk of developing complications during surgery.³ A preoperative assessment can identify these conditions, allowing healthcare professionals to optimize the patient’s medical management before surgery. By addressing these conditions before surgery, healthcare professionals can reduce the risk of complications during and after surgery.

In Ireland, the National Policy on the Procedure for Safe Surgery stresses the importance of preoperative assessment in ensuring patient safety during surgical procedures.⁴ This policy recommends that patients receive preoperative assessments that include a thorough evaluation of their medical history, physical examination, and laboratory testing.⁴ It also suggests that the results of the preoperative assessment be communicated to the entire healthcare team involved in the patient’s care. This improves the co-ordination of care, ensuring that the patient receives safe and effective care.

Preoperative assessment also allows healthcare professionals to identify any potential complications before surgery.¹ For example, patients with a history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism may have an increased risk of developing a blood clot during surgery.¹ By identifying these risks before surgery, healthcare professionals can take appropriate measures to prevent blood clots from forming. This may include prescribing blood thinning medication, providing compression stockings, or performing intermittent pneumatic compression.

Furthermore, preoperative assessment improves communication between healthcare professionals.¹ By conducting a thorough preoperative assessment, healthcare professionals can communicate effectively with each other, ensuring that all team members are aware of the patient’s medical history, surgical risks, and any potential complications associated with the surgical procedure. This improves the co-ordination of care, ensuring that the patient receives safe and effective care.

In conclusion, preoperative assessment is an essential aspect of patient care that plays a significant role in reducing anxiety and fear associated with surgical procedures while improving patient outcomes.¹ The importance of preoperative assessment cannot be overstated as it is crucial in ensuring patient safety and optimising surgical outcomes.