KEY POINTS 1. Mechanical circulatory support devices most often are ventricular assist devices, which are indicated for bridging to myocardial recovery or cardiac transplantation or as a permanent assist device…
KEY POINTS 1. Mechanisms of myocardial ischemic injury are multifactorial and include some of the following: Depletion of high-energy phosphates, intracellular acidosis, alterations in intracellular calcium homeostasis, complement activation, generation…
KEY POINTS 1. Chronic pain due to intercostal nerve injury develops in approximately 50% of postthoracotomy patients, and in 5% this pain becomes severe and disabling. 2. Thoracic epidural analgesia…
KEY POINTS 1. On the day of surgery, most cardiovascular medications should be administered orally, with the exceptions of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and (selectively) diuretic agents….
Chapter 24 Infectious Disease Exposure Elbridge A. Merritt, BSN, CNOR, CRCST, CHL Infectious disease exposure in the operating room (OR) and sterile processing department (SPD) environments is a complex, multifaceted,…
Chapter 2 Initiatives to Improve Patient Safety Alecia Cooper, MBA, RN, BS, CNOR The United States faces a paradoxical health care situation. On the one hand, the level of care…
Chapter 21 Preventing Back Injuries Patient Transfer and Mobility Reuben J. DeKastle, MSHA, BN, RN, CNOR PERIOPERATIVE BACK INJURIES—PERSPECTIVES AND CHALLENGES Nurses have traditionally been willing to sacrifice their own…
Chapter 22 Latex Allergy Anita Shoup, MSN, RN, CNOR In the late 1980s allergy to natural rubber latex (NRL) became a concern for health care workers (HCWs) and patients. Although…
Chapter 15 Normothermia Management Prevention of Harm From Perioperative Hypothermia V. Doreen Wagner, PhD, RN, CNOR Perioperative temperature management is an important and proactive patient safety initiative because it may…
Chapter 27 Using Human Factors to Balance Your Operating Room Chasity Burrows Walters, MSN, RN, Aileen Killen, PhD, RN, Jill Garrett, RN, CPHQ Health care is an inherently risky business,…
