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antiseptics.
1
• Place a fluid-resistant pad under the patient's buttocks during pre-
op patient skin antisepsis for patients in the lithotomy position.
Remove the pad after the antiseptic is dry and before you apply sterile
drapes.
• As necessary, remove and replace any material near the patient
that is in contact with the skin antiseptic solution, including elec-
trodes (ECG or ESU) and tourniquet materials (cuff, padding).
1
Standardization
The answers to these 10 questions come from the newest AORN rec-
S U R G I C A L S K I N A S E P S I S
SLEEVED OR SLEEVELESS?
Yes, a Long-sleeved Scrub Jacket Is Required
According to AORN's
"Recommended Practices for
Surgical Attire," you should wear a
long-sleeved scrub jacket in the
OR while you're prepping a patient.
But nearly half (46%) of the 550
surgical facility leaders we polled
last month disagree because, they
say, the sleeve could contaminate
the area you're prepping.
Should you wear a long-sleeved jacket when prepping patients' skin?
•
No
, the sleeve could contaminate the area you're prepping.............
45%
•
Yes
, skin squames shed from bare arms
may increase the patient's risk for an SSI..............................................
55%
SOURCE:
Outpatient Surgery Magazine InstaPoll, May 2014, n=576
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
Instapoll
LONG SLEEVES REQUIRED Long sleeves
protect against dead skin cells that are
constantly sloughing off our skin from
falling onto the area you're prepping.
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