3. How often do you document pre-surgical CHG baths and linen
changes on pre-surgical patients? (always, sometimes, not often,
never)
4. Who is responsible for ensuring the patient has a surgical bath?
(pre-op, RN, nurse tech, other)
5. Have pre-surgical baths and linen changes been shown to
decrease SSIs? (yes, no)
6. Would you change your practice if you knew pre-surgical baths
and linen changes helped decrease SSIs? (yes, no)
Those surveys revealed that the nurses had an increase in knowl-
edge. We attributed that increase to our educational efforts.
Peer-to-peer education
The most effective means of training was peer-to-peer education. By
tasking veteran nurses with this initiative, the training was well
received by peers. That peer-to-peer education was important. We
appreciate that we have a good surgical site infection rate and that this
additional education was something that we could do to enhance the
comfort level of the nurses, giving them additional confidence to pro-
vide the best care they can for their patients.
While a good portion of that was a re-emphasis on knowledge, it's
equally important that nurses know how to check the correct box on
the chart, indicating that the pre-surgical bath was done.
Educate your patients, too
Patients use a CHG product that they can get over the counter.
Instruct your outpatients to take a shower with that product the night
before, put it on the area where the procedure is being performed and
don't rinse off that area. Because CHG works with a layering effect,
leave it and just blot it. That's also why we instruct patients to repeat
A U G U S T 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 2 9
