Center in Baltimore, showed active warming maintained normother-
mia in all the patients while they were in pre-op and in most of the
patients as they moved to the OR and the recovery unit. The nurses
conducted the research after reviewing 10 clinical studies that demon-
strated forced-air warming was more effective than warmed cotton
blankets for maintaining normothermia. AORN also states that the
collective evidence suggests a combination of active and passive
warming may be the most effective way to stave off hypothermia.
8. According to the literature, thermal discomfort
is associated with all of the following except __________ .
a. increased anxiety c. nausea
b. distress d. pain
Answer: c
A study in the AORN Journal (osmag.net/Av4ZyQ) says patients
respond holistically to complex stimuli, so feeling cold is an uncom-
fortable feeling that can trigger anxiety about the surgery, the anes-
thesia, anticipated pain and being immobilized. "High levels of anxi-
ety have been linked to tachycardia, hypertension, arrhythmias and
increased pain — all factors that impede post-op healing," notes the
study. Warming patients puts a positive spin on how they perceive
potential threats to their well-being, and plays a vital role in how
quickly they feel comfortable and confident enough to ambulate
after surgery.
OSM
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