Intraoperative patient care and safety pt. 4 Flashcards
What is perioperative asepsis (ie, aseptic/sterile technique)
a combination of techniques and protocols employed to prevent microorganisms from entering an open surgical wound or contaminated a sterile field during surgery
What are 5 components of perioperative asepsis?
- performing surgical skin antisepsis
- wearing correct surgical attire
- performing hand hygiene and the surgical hand scrub
- gowning and gloving correctly
- maintaining the sterile field using aseptic technique, which includes preparing the sterile field, draping the surgical field, and moving within the sterile field
What is the goal of perioperative skin antisepsis?
to reduce the risk of developing a surgical site infection by removing soil and transient microorganisms at the surgical site
What are 2 other methods contribute to a reduction of microorganisms on the skin?
- preoperative bathing
- hair management
What can also reduce transient microbes?
soap or antiseptic agent, such as CHG
Where is hair removal most ideal?
Should be performed outside of the OR to limit the number of bacteria shed in the OR
What should be used to remove hair at the surgical site?
an electric or battery-operated clipper or a depilatory
What does using a depilatory require?
a pretest on a site removed from the surgical site to ensure that the patient does not have a skin reaction to the agent
What is a consideration for hair removal with clippers?
should be performed with care to avoid nicking or cutting the underlying skin
What can cuts or nicks in the skin cause?
may allow cutaneous bacteria to proliferate and contribute to a possible SSI
What is the potential harm from providone-iodine antiseptics in patients with a burn?
repeated application leads to iodine absorption and possibly iodism
What are 2 possible reactions from providone-iodine antiseptics in patients with a burn?
- induced hyperthyrodism
- metabolic acidosis
What is the potential harm from providone-iodine antiseptics in patients with a thyroid disorder undergoing a thyroidectomy?
even a single application can result in iodism in patients with thyroid cancer or a goiter
What are 2 possible reactions from providone-iodine antiseptics in patients with a thyroid disorder undergoing a thyroidectomy?
- intereference with radioactive iodine therapy
- thyroid dysfunction
What is the potential harm from providone-iodine antiseptics in neonates?
neonates and premature neonates have increased skin permeability to iodine
What is the potential reaction from providone-iodine antiseptics in neonates?
iodism that leads to either hypothyroidism or transient hypothyroidism
What is the potential harm from providone-iodine antiseptics in women who are pregnant?
iodine crosses the placenta
What is the potential reaction from providone-iodine antiseptics in women who are pregnant?
higher cord blood concentrations of iodine
What is the potential harm from providone-iodine antiseptics in women who are lactating?
iodine is retained in the skin of the breast
What is the potential reaction from providone-iodine antiseptics in women who are lactating?
transient hypothyroidism in the nursing newborn
What are surgical scrub recommendations?
- scrubs donned daily should be clean and freshly laundered in a helath care accredited laundry facility
- scrubs should be changed if soiled
- tops should be tucked in or fit closely
- jackets, if worn, should be buttoned or snapped
- personal clothing that cannot be contained within the scrub attire should not be worn or should be laundered by a health care-accredited laundry facility
- personnel should change into street clothes when leaving the building
What are recommendations for shoes?
- shoes should be clean and dedicated for the perioperative area
- shoes should be close-toed and have heels as identified by OSHA
- shoes should not have holes or openings
- Single-use shoe covers, or boots must be worn when the potential for gross contamination from fluid exists
- shoe covers should be removed after use
What are surgical recommendations for masks?
- masks should be worn in conjunction with eye protection when there is a potential for exposure to fluids
- masks should fit snugly and co er the mouth and nose
- masks are singl-use and should eb changed for each new procedure
- masks should be replaced and discarded when soiled
- masks should not be allowed to dangle around the neck
What are surgical recommendations for jewelry, stethoscopes, and personal identification?
- scrubbed team members that wear jewelry risk accidental contamination of the wound if the jewelry were to fall into the surgical site or become a retained foreign object
- stethoscopes should be cleaned after each use
- identification badges and lanyards should be cleaned with a low level disinfectant when soiled
What are surgical recommendations for hair and facial covering?
- a clean surgical head cover should confine the hair and cover the scalp
- a cover should be used for those with a beard
- single-use coverings should be discarded at the end of the shift or when soiled
- reusable head covering should be laundered daily by a health care-approved laundry facility
What are surgical recommendations for personal items?
- backpacks, briefcases, and other items should be cleaned with a low-level disinfectant before entering the semi-restricted or restricted areas
- if brought in, these items should not be placed on the floor
- cell phoens and other devices should be cleaned according to the manufacturer’s recommendations
What are surgical recommendations for cover apparel?
- if worn, lab coats should be clean, and they are single use
- evidence does not support the use of cover apprel to protect surgical scrubs
What are the special (sometimes conflicting) considerations an RN should keep in mind before using a surgical antiseptic agent?
- No FDA approved antiseptic alternatives on the market for use in the vaginal vault when providine-iodine is contraindicated.
- chlorhexidine gluconate with low alcohol content (4%) is recommended as safe by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for vaginal preps
- Providine-iodine preparations should be used with caution or not at all in select patients, such as those who are susceptible to iodism
- fish or seafood allergies DO NOT necessarily mean that a patient will have an allergic reaction to topical iodine preps
- DO not use iodine or iodophors, CHG, or alcohol internally; they are intented for external use only
- preoperative antisepsis of the vagina with a providone-iodine agent is effective for prevention of endometritis and SSIs for patients undergoing a c-section.
is the use of nonsterile gloves acceptable for prepping? if yes, then what are the conditions?
yes; if the length of the applicator prevetns the antiseptic and surgical site area from coming into contact with the nonsterile gloves
What should the person performing the surgical skin prep be wearing?
a scrub jacket to cover his or her arms
What can pooling of prepping agents cause?
- skin maceration
- increase the risk of fire
What does the manufacturer’s recommendations include for prepping agents?
- dwell time
- pattern of use
- dry time
What changes the recommended dry times for preps?
- manufacturer
- solution
- presence of hair
What happens if alcohol fumes are trapped under the drape?
the potential for inadvertent fire increases
What sites require preventative measures to avoid overall contamination of the entire surgical site?
- traumatic wounds
- foreign substances
- sites that are contaminated (umbilicus, stomas, draining sinuses, skin ulcers, perineum)
What cannot be exposed to alcohol preps?
- mucous membranes
- wounds
- burns
What is the overall goal when establishing expectations for surgical attire?
to reduce the patient’s potential risk of infection by the surgical team
What is the primary method of decreasing health care-associated infections?
hand hygiene
What are the 3 primary methods of hand hygiene
- washing with soap and water
- performing a surgical hand scrub
- using surgical hand rubs
What are the 6 separate times health care personnel should perform hand hygiene?
- upon arrival at and before leaving health care facility
- before and after having contact with the patient
- before donning and after removing gloves
- before and after eating
- before and after going to the rest room
- anytime the hands are contaminated
What are 5 additional steps that decrease the liklihood for transmission of bacteria?
- fingernails should be short and well groomed
- chipped nail polish should be removed
- artiifical nails and nail enhancements should not be wonr
- rings and arm jewelry should not be worn in the periop area
- health care providers should have intact skin when providing direct patient care
What is the goal of surgical hand antisepsis
to remove soil and transient microorganisms from the hands and arms
What are the 4 initial steps of the brush and brushless methods of surgical hand prep?
- remove jewelry
- don a surgical mask
- wash hands and arms with soap and water if visible soil is present
- clean under the fingernails
What 2 things can be used for surgical hand prep using the brush method?
- sponge
- brush
What are the 5 steps used to complete the brush method?
- to prevent dermatitis, the surgical hand scrub should not be performed using a scrub brush
- Wash for 3-5 minutes to allow for adequate coverage of the hands and arms with the product selcted
- wash with an anatomical approach to cover all 4 sides of each finger and both hands and arms
- Rinse hands and arms thoroughly by holding the hands higher than the elbows to prevent contamination from water dripping from less clean areas to cleaner areas
5, Dry hands with a sterile towel before gowning and gloving
What are the 4 steps for surgical hand prep using the brushless method?
- Dispense the manufacturer’s recommended amount of the product
- Apply the product to the hands and forearms according to the manufacturer’s written instructions
- Rub the hands thoroughly until completely dry
- Don a sterile gown and gloves
What technique is used when donning sterile gows and gloves?
sterile technique
Where should gowns and gloves be donned?
from a surface away from the instrument table
Who should perform closed gloving?
by the scrubbed eprson
What describes closed performing?
keeping hands inside the sleeve of the gown until gloves have covered the gown cuff
What is the preferred method when gloving team members during intial gowning and gloving
closed- assisted gloving
What is also recommended for gloving?
double gloving
What are the parameters of the surgical gown of which perioperative nurses should be aware?
- front of the gown, from the chest to the level of the sterile field
- sleeves of the gown, from 2 inches above the elbow to the cuff circumferentially
What are the 5 areas of the unsterile gown?
- back of the gown
- neckline
- shoulder
- axilla
- sleeve cuff after the hand has passed through the cuff
What is vital to the role of the RN when maintaining the sterile field?
surgical conscience
What are the 3 roles for the RN for maintaining the sterile field?
- monitors the sterile field for any breaks in teachnique
- speaks up
- corrects any identified compromises
What is key to time and location for preparing the sterile field?
as close to the time of the procedure as possible in the location in which the procedure will be performed
What is the managers role in preparing the sterile field?
are responsible for establishing a defined process and providing personnel with a detailed description of this process
What is an important consideration for surgical procedures that involve both the abdominal and perineal areas?
caution should be taken to maintain separate setups to reduce the chance of transferring microorganisms from the perineal area to the abdominal area
When performing bowel surgery, nurses should establish a standardized technique known as what?
isolation technique
What 3 steps are included in the isolation technique?
- instruments and equipment that have contacted the inside of the bowel should not be used after the lumen of the bowl has been closed
- Clean instruments should be used for closure
- Contaminated instruments should be removed or covered so that the surgical team does not touch them after closure begins but remain visible for completing instrument counts
What are the most common type of health-care associated infections?
infections of the urinary tact as a result of passing transurethral instruments and catheters during gynecologic laparoscopic procedures
What are sterile drapes used for?
used to establish a barrier and minimize the passage of microorganisms from the unsterile to the sterile area
Besides invasive surgical procedures, according to the CDC, where should full barrier precautions be used?
central venous catheters and peripherally inserted central catheters
What are 5 concepts related to the use of sterile drapes?
- unsterile equipment or furniture in or adjacent to the intended sterile field should be covered with a sterile drape
- Gloved hands should be protected by using a cuff when placing the sterile drape
- Drapes are placed from the surgical site out peripherally
- Once a sterile drape has been placed on the patient, it should not be moved or adjusted
- Items falling below the level of the sterile field are consider contaminated
What is one method to prevent contamination of the established sterile fields?
to control and reduce the amount of movement in and around the sterile field
What are 5 important considerations for scrubbed personnel as far as movement within the sterile field?
- wear appropriate protective devices to allow scrubbed personnel to remain at the sterile field
- Do not leave the sterile field to retrieve items from an autoclave
- Ensure that hands and arms remain above wast level
- Avoid changing position levels during the procedure
- Sit only when the entire surgical team is seated for a procedure
What are 2 important considerations for changing positions, as far as movement within the sterile field?
- Scrubbed personnel should move back-to-back or front-to-front.
- Non-scrubbed personnel should always face the sterile field and maintain a minimum distance of 12 inches from the sterile field
What are 4 important general considerations, as far as movement within the sterile field?
- limit talking at the surgical field
- keep the number of personnel to a minimum
- Use methods of communication to reduce entering and departing the room when a procedure is under way.
- Limit the number of door openings for breaks and retrieving supplies
What are the 3 things should perioperative personnel inspect each sterile item for?
- the item has been sterilized
- the packaging remains intact and has not been compromised
- if there is an expiration date, the item is not expired
Sterility is related to what instead of what?
event related, not time related
An item is considered sterile if…
- the item has been exposed to the parameters of sterilization
- the integrity of the package remain intact
- the item’s packaging has not been compromised by excessive handling or unreliable conditions
define event-related sterility
used to describe a sterile item that will remain sterile regardless of time
When is sterility compromised?
if the item is exposed to events such as excessive handling, humidity, or alterations in there required temperature range
How are items most often sterilized at the health care facility?
- using steam under pressure
- form of plasma using hydrogen peroxide
What are the 2 forms of sterilization used by companies?
- ethylene oxide
- irradiation
What does the FDA require that manufacturers do for packaging?
label their packaging with the method of sterilization as well as with the phrase “sterile unless damaged or opened”
true or false; before presenting sterile items to the field, perioperative personnel need to confirm that the package is labeled with the method of sterilization as well as with the phrase “sterile unless damaged or opened”
true
What are the 3 packaging methods?
- wraps
- peel packs
- rigid containers
Before presenting a sterile item to the surgical field, the nurse must check what?
the integrity of the package
to verify sterile integrity of sterile items what should the RN do?
- inspect all packaging for any compromise caused by moisture, tearing, or rough handling
- Ensure that the sterile contents of a wrapped package do not come in contact with the edges of the wrapper or peel pack before placing them on the sterile field
- Verify the presence of external locks, filters, or valves when opening items in rigid containers and ensure that all are intact and free of moisture before opening and placing them on the sterile field
true or false; specimen management is an unessential component of the RN’s scope of practice
false; it is essential
what happens to errors in specimen management?
can lead to incorrect diagnoses and medical management
What are the four ways a specimen can be sent to pathology?
- frozen
- fresh
- permanent
- culture
Please read the specimen managment policies”
- assessing for needed supplies and processes during the briefing
- notifying applicable personnel
- specifiying the requirements for specimen collection and handling
- identifying the correct method of transfer and transport needs
- delineating the requirements for containment
- verifying the method of preservation
- clarifying the correct disposition of the specimen
- including the correct specimen and disposition in the debriefing
- documenting all of these specifics in the intraoperative record
What is really important with specimen management?
they must be collected and handled in a manner that protects and preserves the integrity of the specimen
What are 3 considerations for forensic specimens?
- placing them in dry plastic containers
- not allowing them to come in contact with metallic basins if they contain metal
- handling them as little as possible
What does an RN need to do if a specimen has markers - sutures and paint?
RN must annotate those markers on the label and requisition form for orientation for pathology so appropriate diagnoses may be made
Each specimen needs to be labeled with what?
- the patient’s name, ID number, and DOB
- the origin of the specimen and laterality
- the date and time the specimen was obtained and placed in preservative
- the surgeon’s name
- preservative and biohazard info
- any other info the facility requires
What 2 things are under implantable materials?
- biologic
- synthetic
What is the RN’s responsibility for implants and explants?
responsible for complying with tracking regulations for implantable materials and devices and must use meticulous aseptic technique with minimal handling