Crossword: General Perioperative Knowledge
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By: Periop Today
Published: 10/16/2024
Pressure injury prevention is a critical responsibility for perioperative nurses. Patients undergoing surgical procedures are at an increased risk of developing these injuries due to factors such as prolonged immobility, decreased sensation, and the use of positioning devices. The Association of Perioperative Nurses (AORN) emphasizes the importance of implementing comprehensive prevention strategies to minimize the occurrence of pressure injuries, which can lead to significant patient discomfort, increased healthcare costs, and potential complications. By adhering to evidence-based guidelines and best practices, perioperative nurses can play a vital role in safeguarding patient skin integrity and promoting positive postoperative outcomes
Validated or reliable tools include the Munro Scale, ELPO, PRAMS, and Scott Triggers. These tools assess for different risk factors and duration of OR time, which is likely the most important risk factor.
Risk assessment tools do not necessarily include all key factors that may increase the patient’s risk for pressure injury, and they are limited in their ability to determine the importance of one risk factor compared with another or to help determine the cumulative effects of multiple risk factors. Using a risk assessment tool does not replace the need for a comprehensive patient assessment.
The Braden Scale should not be used for perioperative patients because it does not address risk factors specific to surgical patients. 2.2
All perioperative patients are at risk for pressure injury because they are immobile during the procedure; placed on a relatively hard surface; unable to feel pain caused by pressure, friction, and shear forces; and unable to change position to relieve the pressure.
Before coming to the OR, a patient may have been transported to the emergency department by ambulance and may have waited for many hours on a hard surface. A patient may have undergone a diagnostic procedure that required remaining in one position for a prolonged period. 3.2
Prophylactic dressings include:
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Not only are travelers filling in gaps for overworked staff, but they are also helping ensure that patients still receive the care they need.
Samantha Breeding's journey from scrub tech to nurse educator was transformed through the AORN Mentor Program, where her mentor, Elizabeth Williams, helped her build confidence and leadership skills. Their connection sparked personal and professional growth, inspiring Samantha to pursue leadership roles within AORN and beyond.