ABSTRACT
Surgical patients with glycemic controller devices and insulin pumps Key words: glycemic controller, insulin, insulin pump, glucose monitoring, blood glucose level. Using leftover IV fluids to clean the surgical incision site after closure Key words: IV fluid, sterile field, infection, contamination. A certified surgical first assistant's scope of practice after obtaining RN licensure Key words: scope of practice, certified surgical first assistant, RN first assistant (RNFA), license. Using instruments outside the scope of the manufacturer's instructions for use Key words: instructions for use (IFU), instrument, manufacturer, risk. Transferring patients from a prone position on the OR bed to a supine position on the stretcher Key words: patient transfer, positioning device, repositioning, alignment, prone.
ABSTRACT
Ensuring patient safety under time pressure Key words: on-time starts, turnover time, briefing, team communication, delays. Holes in the outer layer of sterilization wraps Key words: package integrity, defects, sterilization wrap, contaminated item, sterile field. Changing surgical attire after smoking outside Key words: surgical attire, cigarette smoke, tobacco smoke, third-hand smoke, wound healing. Methemoglobinemia after local anesthesia Key words: methemoglobinemia, methemoglobin (MetHb), lidocaine-prilocaine, methylene blue, cyanosis.
ABSTRACT
Use of indicator glove systems Key words: perforation indicator system, double gloving, glove perforation, innermost glove. Sharps injury protocols Key words: sharps injury, occupational exposure, risk assessment, bloodborne viruses. Sharps injury reporting Key words: injury reporting, sharps injuries, bloodborne pathogen, hepatitis C virus (HCV). Sterile item storage Key words: sterile storage room, shelving unit, sterile supplies, sterile item, cabinet. Combining storage of sterile and unsterile supplies Key words: sterile supplies, unsterile supplies, sterile storage room, storage rack.
ABSTRACT
Bed bugs Key words: bed bugs, pest management, infestation, transmission. Warming irrigation fluids Key words: irrigation fluid, warming fluid, hypothermia, warming cabinet. Fasting before surgery Key words: fasting, NPO, liquids, solids. Advanced cardiac life support requirements for perioperative nurses Key words: advanced cardiac life support, ACLS certification, pediatric advanced life support, PALS certification, basic life support.
ABSTRACT
Operation of fluoroscopy equipment Key words: fluoroscopy, mini C-arm, scope of practice, radiologic device. Patient education after radionuclide implantation Key words: radionuclides, brachytherapy, prostate cancer, radiation safety. Personal protective equipment Key words: clean, decontamination, instruments, PPE, tray assembly. Safe staffing patterns Key words: on-call staffing, schedules, safe staffing levels. Counting instruments when laparoscopy procedures convert to open procedures Key words: counts, instrument, laparoscopy, retained surgical items.
ABSTRACT
Defining a small amount of surgical smoke Key words: surgical smoke, medical-surgical vacuum system, suction tubing. Assessment of hazardous medications Key words: hazardous medications, safety data sheets, OSHA hazard communication. Documentation of electrosurgical devices Key words: electrosurgical device. Developing an explant policy Key words: explant, guideline, implant, policy.
ABSTRACT
Implementing surgical smoke evacuation practices Key words: surgical smoke, compliance, health effects, smoke evacuators. Surgical smoke evacuation policies and procedures Key words: surgical smoke, smoke evacuation, policy, procedure. Measuring compliance with surgical smoke evacuation practices Key words: surgical smoke, smoke evacuation, compliance. Patient safety and hand hygiene Key words: hand hygiene, hand wash, hand rub, patient safety, point of use.
ABSTRACT
Assessing discharge risks for infants and toddlers who have undergone moderate sedation Key words: patient discharge, pediatric, caregiver, moderate sedation. Assessing a child for sleep apnea Key words: pediatric, obstructive sleep apnea, moderate sedation. Using a frailty index to assess surgical patients Key words: frailty, surgical complications, older adult, Braden Scale, Fried Frailty Criteria. Determining the need for IV access in patients undergoing local anesthesia Key words: local anesthesia, IV, preoperative assessment.
ABSTRACT
Use of alcohol (ethanol)-based hand rubs (ABHRs) during pregnancy Key words: alcohol, ethanol, hand rub, ABHR, hand sanitizer. Working when experiencing a shingles infection Key words: shingles, varicella, zoster, employee health. Cleaning rigid containers Key words: rigid container, container, instrument pan.
ABSTRACT
Proper adherence to infection control precautions, including appropriate selection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), is of significant importance to the health and well-being of perioperative personnel. Surgical masks are intended for use as a barrier to protect the wearer's face from large droplets and splashes of blood and other body fluids; however, surgical and high-filtration surgical laser masks do not provide enough protection to be considered respiratory PPE. Potential exposure to airborne contaminants and infectious agents, including those present in surgical smoke, necessitates the use of respiratory PPE, such as a surgical N95 particulate filtering facepiece respirator. Filtering facepiece respirators greatly reduce a wide size range of particles from entering the wearer's breathing zone and are designed to protect the user from both droplet and airborne particles. Every health care worker who must use a respirator to control hazardous exposures in the workplace must be trained to properly use the respirator and pass a fit test before using it in the workplace.
Subject(s)
Respiratory Protective Devices , Surgical Procedures, Operative , Education, ContinuingABSTRACT
Musculoskeletal injuries can occur when the physical work demanded by a job exceeds a worker's ability to respond safely. In perioperative nursing, and nursing in general, patient handling and movement demands commonly lead to injury and are considered high-risk activities. In 2005, the AORN Workplace Safety Task Force was charged with identifying high-risk tasks performed in the perioperative area and developing evidence-based solutions to help establish an ergonomically safe workplace. The work of the task force was incorporated into the "AORN guidance statement: Safe patient handling and movement in the perioperative setting," which includes seven ergonomic tools to help determine best practices for safe movement and handling of patients, supplies, and equipment in the OR. Members of the AORN Perioperative Environment of Care Task Force have collaborated to author seven articles that help explain the rationale behind and use of these ergonomic tools. The articles will appear in the Journal beginning in this issue.
