RESUMEN
Performing proper hand hygiene and surgical hand antisepsis is essential to reducing the rates of health care-associated infections, including surgical site infections. The updated AORN "Guideline for hand hygiene" provides guidance on hand hygiene and surgical hand antisepsis, the wearing of fingernail polish and artificial nails, proper skin care to prevent dermatitis, the wearing of jewelry, hand hygiene product selection, and quality assurance and performance improvement considerations. This article focuses on key points of the guideline to help perioperative personnel make informed decisions about hand hygiene and surgical hand antisepsis. The key points address the necessity of keeping fingernails and skin healthy, not wearing jewelry on the hands or wrists in the perioperative area, properly performing hand hygiene and surgical hand antisepsis, and involving patients and visitors in hand hygiene initiatives. Perioperative RNs should review the complete guideline for additional information and for guidance when writing and updating policies and procedures.
Asunto(s)
Antisepsia/métodos , Adhesión a Directriz , Higiene de las Manos/métodos , Infección de la Herida Quirúrgica/prevención & control , Antisepsia/normas , Mano , Desinfección de las Manos , Higiene de las Manos/normas , Humanos , Higiene , Joyas , Uñas , PielAsunto(s)
Desinfección , Endoscopios , Contaminación de Equipos , Diseño de Equipo , Equipo Reutilizado , HumanosRESUMEN
Retention of a surgical item is a preventable event that can result in patient injury. AORN's "Recommended practices for prevention of retained surgical items" emphasizes the importance of using a multidisciplinary approach for prevention. Procedures should include counts of soft goods, needles, miscellaneous items, and instruments, and efforts should be made to prevent retention of fragments of broken devices. If a count discrepancy occurs, the perioperative team should follow procedures to locate the missing item. Perioperative leaders may consider the use of adjunct technologies such as bar-code scanning, radio-frequency detection, and radio-frequency identification. Ambulatory and hospital patient scenarios are included to exemplify appropriate strategies for preventing retained surgical items.
Asunto(s)
Cuerpos Extraños/prevención & control , Errores Médicos/prevención & control , Enfermería Perioperatoria/normas , Guías de Práctica Clínica como Asunto , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Operativos/enfermería , Humanos , Enfermería Perioperatoria/métodos , Instrumentos Quirúrgicos , Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Operativos/normas , Tapones Quirúrgicos de GazaRESUMEN
Developing regulations or legislation in every state to mandate an RN as the circulator in operating and invasive procedure rooms is critical to patient safety. Current regulatory language is ambiguous and may lead health care facility administrators to consider using licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses, or surgical technologists in the circulator role. The State of Connecticut currently has no legislative or regulatory language regarding the RN as circulator, but some nurses are trying to change this. Communication with state legislators, has made it clear that legislators are in need of education about perioperative nursing and the circulator role.