PUT INTO PLACE
This is the most common surgical position, where the patient lies flat on their back.
What is the supine position?
Padding under bony prominences helps prevent this common complication during surgery.
What is a pressure injury?
This strap is applied after positioning to keep the patient secure on the OR table.
What is a safety strap?
This basic check confirms the patient’s identity and procedure before entering the OR.
What is verifying patient identification and surgical consent?
This assessment ensures the patient’s skin integrity is evaluated before surgery to identify existing conditions that could increase the risk of pressure injuries.
What is a skin assessment?
Before positioning, this factor must be assessed to prevent nerve injury and maintain airway patency during surgery.
What is the patient’s range of motion and body alignment?
Responsible for patient safety
Before draping, these devices should be placed to protect pressure points and maintain safe positioning.
What are gel pads or foam cushions?
Reviewing procedure, estimated length of procedure, patient comorbidities, BMI, are methods to determine_____
What are the patient's positioning risk factors?
This step ensures all devices and supports are ready to maintain safe positioning and prevent pressure injuries during long procedures.
What is verifying availability and placement of positioning equipment (e.g., gel pads, straps, cushions)?
A contributing factor to falls in the OR is
Lack of communication
This documentation step is required after positioning to record devices used and precautions taken.
What is documenting the patient’s position and supports in the surgical record?
This position, used for laparoscopic procedures, tilts the patient’s head downward to improve visualization of the pelvis.
What is the Trendelenburg position?
To prevent nerve injury, the arms should never be positioned in this extreme way.
What is hyperextension or excessive abduction?
This communication technique ensures everyone moves together during a patient transfer.
What is a verbal count or “ready, set, move” command?
This device helps reduce friction and makes lateral transfers safer for staff and patients.
What is a slide board or transfer sheet?
Before positioning, this factor must be assessed to prevent nerve injury and maintain airway patency during surgery.
What is the patient’s range of motion and body alignment?
This is the most commonly injured peripheral nerve in the perioperative setting, typically due to compression at the elbow during surgery.
What is the ulnar nerve?
This policy requires using assistive devices and trained staff to prevent injuries during patient transfers.
What is the safe patient handling policy?
When transferring a patient from the OR table to a stretcher, this safety step must be done first to prevent falls.
What is locking the wheels of both the OR table and stretcher?
This principle ensures the head, neck, and spine remain aligned during surgery.
What is maintaining neutral alignment?
This pre-op consideration involves reviewing lab values and comorbidities that can affect tissue perfusion and healing.
What is assessing vascular status and underlying medical conditions?
This pre-op factor increases fall risk and should be assessed before transfer, especially in elderly patients.
What is impaired mobility or weakness?
Before transferring, this step ensures the patient’s airway and lines remain secure during movement.
What is checking and securing all tubes, drains, and the airway?
When placing a patient’s legs in the lithotomy position, this principle ensures safety and prevents hip dislocation or muscle strain.
What is raising and lowering both legs simultaneously and slowly?
This tool is often used during pre-op to predict a patient’s risk for pressure injuries based on factors like mobility and nutrition.
What is the Braden Scale, Scott Triggers, Munro Scale?
According to safe patient handling guidelines, at least this many staff members should assist with a lateral transfer of an anesthetized patient.
What is two or more?
When placing a patient in the Trendelenburg position, this precaution helps prevent sliding and nerve injury.
What is using a nonslip surface and securing the patient with straps?