AORN Offers Steps to Restore OR Operations After a Power Outage and Flooding
The following suggestions were prepared by nurse consultants at the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) especially for those who have been affected by Hurricane Sandy. The AORN Nursing Consult Line is open to members who have specific questions on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. MT at 1-800-755-2676.
1. Perform an environmental assessment by a multi-disciplinary team including:
a. Infection Preventionist
b. Facility Plant Engineer
c. Nursing
d. Sterile Processing Department Manager
e. Management
2. Assess environmental cleanliness:
a. Condensation on surfaces (eg, walls, flooring, supply packages)
b. Inspect sterile packaging for condensation on surfaces or any signs of water damage
3. Assess power supply: Fully restored or on emergency generator?
4. Assess HVAC system:
a. Air exchanges restored?
b. Temperature within acceptable range?
c. Humidity less than 60%?
5. Assess water supply
a. Water pressure
b. Water quality
c. Steam supply lines
6. Perform quality check on steam sterilizers and automated cleaning equipment before returning to service.
a. Reprocess or discard any sterile items suspected of damage
7. Terminally clean operating rooms
8. Inventory and record discarded damaged supplies for insurance claim purposes and to obtain replacements.
Additional Resource: L Mitchell, Lessons Learned from Hurricane Ike, AORN Journal, Volume 89, Issue 6 , Pages 1073-1078, June 2009.
Comprehensive Strategies in Wound Care: Insights From Madhavi Ponnapalli, MD
November 22nd 2024Madhavi Ponnapalli, MD, discusses effective wound care strategies, including debridement techniques, offloading modalities, appropriate dressing selection, compression therapy, and nutritional needs for optimal healing outcomes.
The Leapfrog Group and the Positive Effect on Hospital Hand Hygiene
November 21st 2024The Leapfrog Group enhances hospital safety by publicizing hand hygiene performance, improving patient safety outcomes, and significantly reducing health care-associated infections through transparent standards and monitoring initiatives.
Why Clinical Expertise Is the Cornerstone to Your Most Profitable Business Line
November 14th 2024Perioperative nurses bring vital skills in patient safety, infection control, and quality improvement. They enhance surgical outcomes and support health care systems during complex, high-risk procedures.
Strengthening Defenses: Integrating Infection Control With Antimicrobial Stewardship
October 11th 2024Use this handout to explain the basics of why infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship are essential and how the 2 fields must have a unified approach to patient and staff safety
Blood Product Overtransfusion Is a Global Issue: Here Are 5 Reasons the Practice Must Change
October 9th 2024If a patient receives treatment or therapy that they do not need, it can cause unnecessary harm. This is true for medications, surgeries, and medical procedures, especially blood transfusions.
