Beta Blockers are a common medication choice on cardiac care units and intensive care units in hospital settings. Controlling hypertension and arrhythmias are important parts of the management of the critical care patient. A recent large scale study published in the Lancet is challenging some of the preconceived notions about the safety of the widespread use of this medication category in pre-surgical patients.

The Canadian researchers who authored the study found that patients who received beta blockers before surgery were much more likely to experience life threatening side effects following surgery. These patients were twice as likely to have a CVA and had a one third greater mortality rate at one month after surgery.

While the docs figure this out, the nursing staff needs to pay particular attention to these at risk patients. Monitoring for post surgical side effects, strokes, and watching for adverse signs in trending of labs and vital signs so that we can alert the physicians more rapidly.

Other standard nursing interventions still apply including encouraging ambulation, use of the incentive spirometer, and turning frequently for those patients who cannot ambulate. By reducing the risk for complications post surgically through good nursing care, we can give all post surgical patient the best chance of a full recovery.

Are you a nurse on a med-surg or post surgical floor?  Let me know what your impressions are of this article.  Send me your comments at Comments@nursingshow.com