M A y 2 0 1 8 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 9
eliminating a major
source of microbial
contamination and
transmission in the
OR, but standardizing
prepping practices is
no easy task. It took
us 2 years and lots of
hard work to integrate
uniform routines into
routine practice. Here
are the keys to our
ongoing efforts to pro-
tect patients from
themselves.
1. Partner with patients
Patients who are scheduled to undergo complex procedures such as
joint replacements should be required to shower the day before sur-
gery with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) soap. Also have them treat
their skin with CHG wipes before donning gowns in pre-op. Educating
patients about how to use CHG products, stressing the importance of
prepping the skin before surgery and even providing patients with kits
that contain all the supplies needed for pre-op bathing will boost their
compliance with your directives.
2. Make it easy
Staff should be able to implement standardized prepping protocols
without a lot of extra effort. Include needed prepping supplies on sur-
• PINK PROTECTION Nurses who apply preps should wear brightly colored gowns
to alert other members of the surgical team that an important job is underway.
Brittany
Harvey,
MSN,
MBA,
RN,
CNOR