AORN Journal
Volume 89, Issue 3 , Pages 538-552, March 2009

Prevention of Pressure Ulcers in the Surgical Patient

  • Patina S. Walton-Geer, RN-BC, MSN, CWCN, CFCN

      Affiliations

    • Patina S. Walton-Geer, RN-BC, MSN, CWCN, CFCN, is a wound and foot care nurse clinician at AnMed Health Outpatient Wound and Foot Care Clinic, Anderson, SC. Ms Walton-Geer has no declared affiliation that could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest in publishing this article.

ABSTRACT 

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a serious health care problem, and it is crucial to assess how patients acquire pressure ulcers after admission to a health care facility. In the OR, factors related to positioning, anesthesia, and the duration of surgery, in addition to patient-related factors, all can affect PU development.

This article reviews current practices, including AORN recommended practices, regarding pressure ulcer prevention efforts for surgical patients.

All surgical patients should be considered at-risk for pressure ulcer development; therefore, perioperative departments should develop and implement strategic plans for pressure ulcer prevention. AORN J 89 (March 2009) 538–548. © AORN, Inc, 2009.

Key words:  pressure ulcer , health care-acquired conditions , surgical patients , wound prevention

 

  indicates that continuing education contact hours are available for this activity. Earn the contact hours by reading this article and taking the examination on pages 549–550 and then completing the answer sheet and learner evaluation on pages 551–552. The contact hours for this article expire March 31, 2012.You also may access this article online at http://www.aornjournal.org.The behavioral objectives and examination for this program were prepared by Rebecca Holm, RN, MSN, CNOR, clinical editor, with consultation from Susan Bakewell, RN, MS, BC, director, Center for Perioperative Education. Ms Holm and Ms Bakewell have no declared affiliations that could be perceived as potential conflicts of interest in publishing this article.This program meets criteria for CNOR and CRNFA recertification, as well as other continuing education requirements.AORN is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.AORN recognizes this activity as continuing education for registered nurses. This recognition does not imply that AORN or the American Nurses Credentialing Center approves or endorses products mentioned in the activity.AORN is provider-approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 13019. Check with your state board of nursing for acceptance of this activity for relicensure.

PII: S0001-2092(08)00898-3

doi:10.1016/j.aorn.2008.12.022

AORN Journal
Volume 89, Issue 3 , Pages 538-552, March 2009

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