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asked them to check all that they
used). In order, our respondents prefer forced-air warming systems
(83.8%), cotton blankets pre-warmed
with blanket warmers (76.8%),
warming gowns (23.2%), underbody
warming mattresses (7.1%), radiant
warming devices (6.1%) and thermal
body wraps (2.0%).
Charlene Goff, RN, director of
Warming as a
comfort measure is
still recommended
during shorter
procedures.
nursing at the Pasadena (Calif.)
Plastic Surgery Center, matches the warming device to the case. She says short
cases are good with pre-warmed cotton blankets and longer cases do better with
forced-air systems. She'll also deploy the forced-air warmer if a patient asks for
more than 2 blankets. The efforts are well worth it, she says. "Patient satisfaction
has increased 50% and length of recovery has been reduced," says Ms. Goff. "It's
easier to get patients up and moving when they're warm and comfortable."
Patti Lynn Trapp, RN, director of operative services at Avera St. Mary's
Hospital in Pierre, S.D., heartily endorses her fluid-warming device, which she
was introduced to, she says, after she'd been using the warming gown and the
forced-air warming blanket. "It's very inexpensive, easy to use and efficient," she
says of the IV fluid warmer. "We're now using it more often. Patients are warm,
but not sweaty." OSM
E-mail doconnor@outpatientsurgery.net.
