Chapter 20: Diagnostic investigations
Skip chapter table of contents and go to main content
Post‐procedural considerations
Immediate care
Ensure patient modesty is maintained throughout and directly after the examination. To maintain privacy and dignity, the nurse should leave the room while the patient gets undressed and dressed, and advise them to call when ready (RCN [129]).
Ongoing care
The results should be communicated to the patient and appropriate follow‐up and/or referral to secondary services arranged where necessary. It is important that the healthcare professional considers how the patient may react if abnormal results are to be delivered and ensures necessary support (RCN [129]).
Documentation
The nurse should ensure that the request form has been adequately completed and that the samples are also labelled correctly and accurately. If other microbiological tests are conducted, ensure the correct forms are completed and the samples are labelled and document any findings and resulting actions (RCN [129]).
Education of patient and relevant others
It is not unusual for the patient to experience some spotting after the cervical smear. This must be explained to the patient to ensure she is aware and will not be worried. The healthcare professional should promote health education providing advice in the prevention of cervical cancer and encouraging screening to those who are eligible such as accurate information and advice in the prevention of cervical cancer. Patient information leaflets are offered to patients to ensure they have the appropriate information (RCN [129]).
