Ideas That Work: Keep the OR Thermostat Under Lock and Key

The battle for control of the thermostat is a common occurrence in ORs and a source of undo stress for the surgical team. We decided to give final say of the room's ambient temperature to a single staff member, who holds the key that unlocks the plastic box covering the thermostat. That person is the only one who can turn up the heat or cool things down to keep the temperature within the AORN-recommended range of 68 ?F to 73 ?F, no matter how much surgeons or staff complain about being too hot or too cold.

Miriam Dowling-Schmitt, MS, RN, CPHQ, CPPS
Spectrum Healthcare Partners
Portland, Maine
[email protected]