SHORT COURSE ABOUT POSTOPERATIVE NURSING CARE AFTER KIDNEY AND LIVER TRANSPLANTATION

Abstract

The project "Short course for nursing students about the care of postoperative kidney and liver transplant patients" was developed at the School of Nursing of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, with eight nursing students, covering 12 hours. The aim of this paper is to report the experience of nursing students during the planning and organization of this extension project. The activities were carried out in three stages: explanatory exposition class provided by the student responsible for proposal of the project; additional reading tasks; and theoretical and practical activities developed by members of the organizing committee. These activities aimed to equip the nursing students with the knowledge required to care for kidney and liver transplant patients during the immediately postoperative period. The extension work contributed to the integrated training of the students, enabling the future nurses to meet the demands of these transplant patients, providing quality nursing care according to individual needs. The research was integral to the provision of information required for qualification in the short course and provided encouragement for the development of investigative projects. Notable issues addressed included aspects of drug therapy targeted towards postoperative kidney and liver transplant patients, abdominal physical examination (inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation), aspects of diuresis with conducting fluid balance and central venous pressure practices using a water column, mean arterial pressure (in mmHg), and evaluation and execution of postoperative wound dressings. The project provided an opportunity for academic training of the organizing team as well as the participants of the short course, strengthening clinical practices by the provision of theoretical and practical knowledge about the nursing care required for kidney and liver post-transplant patients.