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Clinical
Risk Management
One Innovation to Reduce OR Down Time While Maintaining Patient Safety #1110 (1.00 CH)
Debra Sonnenberg, MSN, RN, CNOR
Professional Practice Nurse Lead
Fairview Lakes Regional Med Ctr
Wyoming, MN
Jessica Purdue Rep, BSN, RN
Nurse Manager
Fairview Lakes Regional Medical Center
Wyoming, MN
Our innovative PACU Pull-Through workflow design initiative had three goals: 1) Increase PACU RN airway management competence, 2) Increase periop safety and teamwork, and 3) Reduce OR turnover time. In this innovative design, the PACU RN is called to the OR at the end of the procedure, assists anesthesia with extubation as needed, receives report, and begins assessments while the patient is still in the OR. The PACU RN helps transfer the patient on to the gurney, and brings the patient to the PACU. The OR RN, rather than assisting anesthesia during emergence as usual, is freed up to complete documentation, manage specimens, etc., all while not leaving the OR. Therefore, precious OR turnover time is saved.