The science and profession of nursing has come a long way since Florence Nightingale published Notes on Nursing in 1859, but many of her observations remain true to this day. She recommended, for example, that nurses avoid wearing fabrics that make noise. “The fidget of silk and of crinoline,” she wrote, “the rattling of keys, the creaking of…shoes, will do a patient more harm than all the medicines in the world will do him good.” Peaceful, quiet environments aid in recovery, and even the sound of fabric rustling can disturb a patient and interfere with the healing process.
She recognized, and modern research supports, that it takes more than medication to recover after surgery. Modern procedures are far less invasive than they used to be, but they still take their toll on the body. As your loved one recovers at home after a procedure, take care to create a comfortable, peaceful environment to aid in their recovery. Here are some tips to help get them back on their feet as quickly as possible.
Read post-surgery instructions. You’ll receive post-surgery care instructions before you leave the hospital. Read them carefully and ask questions if something is not clear. Following these instructions closely is your best bet for a speedy recovery.
Wash the bedsheets and make the bed. Not only is a freshly made bed more comfortable to sleep in, clean sheets will also help prevent infection.
Remove hazards from the floor. This includes clothes, shoes, toys, or anything else the patient might trip over when they get up to stretch their legs or go to the bathroom. Someone who is sore from surgery or drowsy from medications might not notice something on the floor right in front of them, so keep the path around the bed and to the bathroom clear.
Keep necessities nearby. Make room on the end table, or bring a portable table into the room, for anything they’ll want close at hand, including:
- Water
- Medication
- Bandages
- Ice packs or heating pads, as recommended by the doctor.
- Things to help pass the time: the TV remote, a book, a tablet, etc.
- A phone and charger in case of emergency, or just so they can text you instead of yelling for you or getting out of bed if they need anything.
Prepare healthy meals and snacks in advance. Make sure to follow any post-surgery instructions you’ve received. Some kinds of surgery require the patient follow a certain kind of diet, such as a bland diet. Foods high in protein (such as meat, beans, and eggs), iron, fiber, and vitamins C and B12 will stimulate healing. Limit sugar and carbohydrate intake while recovering.
Keep the noise level down. Ask anyone else in the house to limit noise, whether from conversation, television, or hobbies. A quiet environment has been shown to aid in healing. This doesn’t mean that the patient has to sit in silence and not watch TV or listen to music. When we talk about “noise,” we mean sudden, abrupt, jarring sounds that can spike stress and anxiety levels.
Monitor pain and healing. Over the course of their recovery, regularly ask your loved one how they are feeling. Ask them to honestly assess their pain. Pain is your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Examine their incisions when you change dressings. Your doctor can tell you how to identify signs of infection and whether or not a wound is healing properly. If your loved one is experiencing excessive pain or a wound doesn’t look right, don’t hesitate to call for help.
