Rock Your CPAN Exam 2025 – Ace the Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse Challenge!

When a patient reports feeling nauseous after surgery, providing reassurance and supportive care is an essential aspect of post-anesthesia nursing. Postoperative nausea can be a common side effect of anesthesia or the surgical procedure itself, and it is important for the nurse to acknowledge the patient's discomfort. By reassuring the patient that this experience is not uncommon and providing supportive measures, the nurse helps to alleviate anxiety and promote patient comfort, which can in turn help mitigate feelings of nausea.

Reassurance serves not only to validate the patient's feelings but also to create a trusting environment where the patient feels safe to express concerns. Supportive care may include positioning the patient in a more comfortable position, applying cool cloths, offering ice chips, or utilizing non-pharmacological measures to manage nausea.

A proactive approach to understanding the cause of nausea is also vital. While it’s important to acknowledge that nausea is common, this does not negate the need to assess and respond appropriately, which may eventually include medication based on a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s condition. However, immediate reassurance and supportive care create a good foundation for further interventions if necessary.