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escort them and no cords should be in the patient's path. Some facilities make patients ride into the OR on a gurney if they've received any sedation. "We secure patients on gurneys or in wheelchairs using safety straps before the team positions the patient on the OR bed," says Chris Eggert-Rosenthal, MSN, CNOR. Lock the brakes on the stretcher or wheelchair before moving a patient, says Ms. Biston. "And make sure the patient's blanket or gown doesn't hinder movement if you're ambulating the patient to the OR table," she adds.
Patients using the restrooms in admitting and discharge areas are big fall risks, especially those who aren't comfortable using crutches. A patient using crutches took a spill in the restroom at the Central Oklahoma Surgical Institute in Norman, Okla. "Next time, we'll just use a wheelchair or walker for all patients with ambulating devices," says Kasey Ryan, RN. You can also give unsteady patients a walker to use to ambulate to the bathroom.
E-mail doconnor@outpatientsurg ery.net.
