Final answer:
The nurse's first action should be to notify the surgeon, anesthesia care provider, and nursing leadership of the patient's food and drink intake. This is to assess the risk of aspiration and determine if the surgery can proceed safely. The team then reviews patient safety protocols and conducts a time out before proceeding.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a circulating nurse discovers that a patient scheduled for a right inguinal herniorrhaphy under general anesthesia has consumed food and drink prior to surgery, the circulatory nurse's first action should be to notify the surgeon, anesthesia care provider, and nursing leadership. This is because recent intake of foods or liquids can increase the risk of aspiration during anesthesia, potentially leading to serious complications. The medical team needs to reassess the patient's condition and determine whether it is safe to proceed, or if the surgery needs to be delayed.
As part of the pre-operative assessment, it is crucial that all team members, including the nurse, surgeon, and anesthesia professional, review key concerns for the patient's safety and recovery. This includes confirming the patient's identity, surgical site, procedure, and reviewing any anticipated critical events. Additionally, it ensures that prophylactic antibiotics have been administered if needed, and essential imaging results are displayed.
Before induction of anesthesia and the surgical incision, a time out is conducted where the entire surgical team confirms important safety measures, including the patient's verification of their identity, the surgical site and procedure, and consent, as well as the presence of any known allergies and an evaluation of the patient's airway and risk of aspiration.