Surgical Site Infection Paper

Words: 2591
Pages: 11

National Patient Safety Goal 2014: Surgical Site Infections

Catherine Szal
October 16, 2014
Clinical Management
Professor Fitzgerald
Ramapo College of New Jersey

Abstract
Surgical site infections (SSI’s) are the most common Hospital Acquired Infection that cause patients and families unnecessary physical and emotional stressors and result in a longer hospital stay with an increased financial burden for both the patient and the hospital. Vigilant healthcare workers partnering up with surgical patients can be better prepared to manage SSI’s by understanding what signs and symptoms to look out for, as well as taking preventative measures to reduce the risk of an infection from occurring. As a result of evidenced based practice, risk factors have been identified in the surgical patient population and new ways of managing these risk factors have been instituted to provide a higher standard of care. Nurses caring for patients in the pre-, peri-, and postoperative periods have an important role in notifying patients of the risks associated with SSI’s, and how infections can be prevented. After examining evidenced based practice a multidisciplinary approach has been recommended and implemented within healthcare organizations to avoid SSI’s and help drive the rate down to zero. As a
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The implementation of the SCIP checklists have proven to be an excellent communication tool between different nursing shifts as well as different nursing departments. By reviewing the checklists within each chart, many mistakes are prevented. The computerized checklists ensure that the inpatient nurse has taken all precautions for the patient prior to sending the patient to the OR so that there are no postponements to the patients scheduled