Assignment task: You are a nurse in a medical-surgical unit in a hospital caring for a 27-year-old professional football player who underwent surgery to repair a compound fracture of his femur. The surgery went smoothly and you are responsible for his postoperative care after he returns from PACU. (Learning Outcomes 1 and 2)
a. What is his skin's role in preventing infection before surgery?
b. Describe how you would expect his wound to heal.
c. Indicate local and systemic factors that could affect the healing of his surgical wound.
d. For which complications would you monitor his wound?
e. Outline signs and symptoms that might indicate his wound is infected. In what time frame might they appear?