bathroom, and just
remind them of the
importance of getting
up and moving every
now and then.
Just like in the pre-
op area, your surgical
team can use the
CMUNRO SCALE to
gauge key risk factors
like systolic blood
pressure, cord body
type, surface type and
whether moisture is
present underneath
the patient. Post-op is another important and overlooked area for
intervention. It hinges on the communication between the OR nurse
and the PACU nurse. Periop staff must let the PACU nurse know
what position the patient was in during the procedure. You'll also
want to perform a dual skin assessment of high-risk areas on patients
to make sure those vulnerable spots are protected during the offload-
ing process.
Of course, the thread that holds all these efforts together is con-
sistent communication and collaboration among the staff in each
phase of care. I can't stress this enough: Bridging the communica-
tion gaps between your various departments is the most effective
way to change your PI prevention culture and practices.
Empower the frontlines
Pressure injuries are one of the critical nursing sensitive indicators
5 2 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • A P R I L 2 0 2 0
• HEAD START Don't ignore the risk of skin injury in pre-op, especially if a case's
start time is delayed.
