Evidence-based tips and practical guides for student nurses on surgical ward placements and the nurses who mentor them.
Quick-access cards for every scenario on a surgical ward: NEWS2 scoring, pre-op checklists, ISBAR handover, drain care, fluid balance, VTE prevention. Free access, no signup.
All 9 WardWise guides in one place, organised by phase of care. Pre-op assessment, ISBAR handover, post-op observations, drain management, fluid balance, VTE prevention, NEWS2 scoring, and more. Your single shareable placement reference.
Read the complete guide →Practical, evidence-based tips for surviving and thriving on your surgical ward placement — from pre-op checklists to NEWS2 scoring to getting your drain documentation right.
Read guide →How to calculate the National Early Warning Score 2, what every threshold means, escalation in practice, and the surgical-specific pitfalls that catch student nurses out.
Read guide →The emotional reality, a real shift timeline, 5 things experienced nurses wish they'd known on day one, and the essential references to have at your fingertips before you walk in.
Read guide →Why handovers go wrong, a full ISBAR breakdown with surgical examples, common student mistakes, and two complete handover walkthroughs — pre-op and post-op.
Read guide →The first 24 hours after surgery are the most critical. What to check, how often, red flags that demand immediate escalation, and how to document properly.
Read guide →Master intake/output monitoring, normal ranges, red flags, and how to spot early signs of dehydration, fluid overload, and acute kidney injury on surgical wards.
Read guide →Risk factors, TED stocking technique, LMWH administration, and the signs of DVT and PE you need to escalate immediately on surgical wards.
Read guide →Systematic pre-op checklist, WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, common investigations, patient preparation, and handing over to theatre using ISBAR. Everything you need before a patient goes to theatre.
Read guide →Types of surgical drains (Redivac, Jackson-Pratt, Penrose, chest drains), drain output colour chart, daily care protocol, complications, and patient discharge education.
Read guide →A practical ISBAR-based handover template for surgical wards. Fill-in-the-blank structure for pre-op and post-op patients, how to adapt for urgent escalation, and why templates prevent dangerous omissions.
Read guide →PACU handover, the first-hour ABCDE assessment, hourly monitoring frequency, drain and fluid balance tracking, and the red flags that demand immediate escalation after surgery.
Read guide →The four surgical wound classifications (clean, clean-contaminated, contaminated, dirty), healing stages, the TIME assessment framework, and wound signs that require immediate escalation.
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