patient onto or off of the OR table, never drag a patient. Instead, use a
flyboard, hoist sling or an air-assisted transfer system. If this equip-
ment is not available, use a draw sheet, which you can make by fold-
ing a top sheet in half lengthwise and rolling one end. Using at least 3
people, roll the patient onto his side and place the rolled end of the
sheet underneath the patient's back and hips. Then roll the patient
onto his other side, so that you can extend the sheet underneath of
him. If there are wheels on either of these surfaces, make sure they
are locked. To make it easier, adjust the surface you are transferring
the patient onto so that it is a couple of inches lower than the other, if
possible, before lifting.
12. Remove the prep. As soon as possible after surgery, remove all
prep solution, as wet skin is more susceptible. But don't remove a
patient's dressings immediately following surgery. Instead, keep them
on until the patient is ambulatory and in street clothes.
13. In recovery, position patients differently. If patients were in
the lateral position during the operation, make sure they're supine in
PACU. Ask about pain that isn't specific to the surgical site, as this
may be an early pressure ulcer indicator. If the patient indicates pain,
get him moving — it's possible to ward off an ulcer during the begin-
ning stages by getting the patient off of the area so blood and oxygen
can return to damaged tissue.
M A R C H 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 4 7
When it comes to pressure ulcer reduction, you
have to go beyond the routine.
— Joyce Black, PhD, RN, CWCN, FAAN
