Clinical Nurse Leader Practice Exam

What solution helps ensure patients arrive prepared for morning surgery?

1. Change the first surgery start time

2. Institute presurgery phone calls 2 to 3 days prior to appointment

3. Stagger surgery start times

4. Reschedule patients who come unprepared

The correct answer is: Institute presurgery phone calls 2 to 3 days prior to appointment

The solution that ensures patients arrive prepared for morning surgery is to institute presurgery phone calls 2 to 3 days prior to the appointment. This proactive approach allows healthcare providers to communicate important preoperative instructions to patients, reminding them of necessary preparations such as NPO status (nothing by mouth), medication adjustments, and any required lab work. These phone calls provide an opportunity to answer patient questions and address any concerns, ultimately leading to better compliance with preoperative protocols. By reinforcing these instructions just days before the surgery, patients are more likely to remember and adhere to the preparations needed, reducing the chances of delays or complications on the day of the procedure. This method fosters better patient education and can significantly enhance the efficiency of the surgical schedule. Additionally, it improves overall patient satisfaction as individuals feel more informed and involved in their care process. In contrast, simply changing the surgery start time or staggering surgery start times does not address the underlying issue of patient preparation and may not effectively reduce the instances of patients arriving unprepared. Similarly, rescheduling unprepared patients may lead to inefficiencies and additional delays without providing an immediate solution to ensure readiness for surgery.