Final answer:
Nurses must monitor patients undergoing general anesthesia for airway obstruction, aspiration of gastric contents, and inadequate pain control, ensuring proper postoperative care and comfort.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a patient undergoes general anesthesia, a nurse should monitor for certain adverse effects that can be associated with the use of anesthetic drugs. These adverse effects include potential airway obstruction due to relaxation of the tongue muscles and the risk of aspiration of gastric contents. The anesthesiologist, surgeon, and nurse collaborate to ensure proper recovery and monitoring during the postoperative period.
It is essential that control of respiration is managed effectively, as the anesthetics relax the majority of the body's muscles, necessitating the need for endotracheal intubation to maintain an open airway. Pain control post-surgery is also critical, as general anesthetics do not act as analgesics. Therefore, adequate pain management must be addressed separately to ensure the patient's comfort and prevent inadequate pain control.