Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing Commons^™

From Chew To Throughput: Supporting Faster Recovery, Lindsay Kephart, Morgan Thiry

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Patients admitted with bowel-related diagnosis groups (DRGs) are experiencing extended lengths of stay.  The delay in return of bowel function is a barrier to care progression for patients admitted with a bowel DRG. Evidence supports early implementation and consistent use of chewing gum to improve early GI motility, reducing overall length of stay.

This pilot aims to standardize gum chewing after surgery for our bowel patient population to promote early bowel function and help reduce hospital length of stay.

Cardiac-Surgical Advanced Life Support (Cals-S), Rachel Hewett, Lois Lenzmeier, Amber Martin

Nursing Posters

Improve resuscitation outcomes of cardiovascular surgery patients through the adoption of the Cardiac Advanced Life Support-Surgical (CALS-S) algorithm for cardiac arrest.

A Tapestry For Sustaining Perioperative Participation, Larry Asplin, Joanne Oliver-Coleman

Nursing Posters

Perioperative nursing shortages are becoming critical. Many baby boomers are retiring. As a result, this team was tasked to create some basic principles that will help sustain the value of perioperative nursing by utilizing a multigenerational approach.

Perioperative Resources Nurses are pivotal in enhancing the quality and efficiency of care within surgical settings. These nurses operationalize evidence-based standards for healthy work environments and promote creativity in implementing these standards. They can be full-time, part-time, virtual, or volunteer.

Consistent Inventory Of Sterilized Instruments Ensures A Safe And Uncompromised Supply Of Instruments For Procedural Use, Tiffany Tammen, Amber Eckstein, Ellen Simonson

Nursing Posters

CentraCare Rice Memorial Hospital received a regulatory citation related to sterile instrument integrity and storage. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) created a systematic approach to assess instrument inventory and integrity to ensure an uncompromised supply of instruments for procedural use.

The Effects Of Music Therapy On Pediatric Patients With Congenital Heart Defects In The Pre And Postoperative Setting, Janelle Marie Choy

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Congenital heart defects is a prominent medical occurrence especially in pediatrics. These defects often require surgeries and extensive treatment plans. These treatment plans often include invasive surgeries and extensive treatment plans which can require long recovery times along with potential surgical complications. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of music therapy on pediatric patients with congenital heart defects in the pre and postoperative setting and how music therapy can be implemented in treatment plans to yield effective recovery results for these patients. This research is significant as elevated vital signs and preoperative anxiety are associated with an increased need …

Racial Concordance Perceptions Of Post-Op African-American Patients, John-Ezekiel Moya

Nursing | Student Research Posters

African-Americans have historically faced significant health disparities, which persist due to implicit racial biases and a lack of cultural competency among non-Black healthcare providers. These disparities often result in poorer health outcomes and diminished patient satisfaction. One potential factor in mitigating these issues is racial concordance, the alignment of racial identity between patients and providers (Jetty et al., 2022). However, only 6.3% of the nursing workforce identifies as Black or African-American (Smiley et al., 2023), limiting opportunities for racially concordant care. While racial concordance may foster trust, communication, and comfort in healthcare settings, research on its importance to African-American Patients—especially …

Smoke Evacuation In The Operating Room, Meghan Holley, Mckenzie Moon

Nurse Residency

In perioperative staff, does mandating the use of smoke evacuation in the surgical setting compared to no smoke evacuation decrease the amount of exposure to toxic byproducts found in surgical plume for each surgical case?

Research Makes A Difference: Changing Post Surgical Vital Signs, Elizabeth Plante, Sadie Seezs, Jennifer Burris, Tiffany Omann-Bidinger

Nursing Posters

Research Question:

Are reduced frequency of vital signs as effective in identifying patient deterioration in postoperative adult orthopedic and spine patients after a post anesthesia care unit stay with transfer to orthopedic and neuroscience spine units when compared to current practice?

Conclusions/Implications:

• Changing the frequency of post operative vital signs provides the same quality, not directly affecting an increased risk of death.
• Reduction in number of times vital signs needed completion, saving time for nurses to complete other duties.
• System wide change to routine post operative vital signs for floor level patients was implemented.
• Recommend future research for obstetric and …

Parental Presence Following Pediatric Invasive Procedures And Surgery, Jaymie Riza Torres, Franchesca Isabelle Andaya Lazaro

Nursing | Student Research Posters

Background: Pediatric patients are severely affected by preoperative anxiety which can lead to postoperative complications and delayed recovery. This could be attributed to their developmental stage which determines their response to stress and fear. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate postoperative recovery outcomes in pediatric patients following the implementation of parental presence at the induction of anesthesia and upon first waking up. Method: This proposed research utilizes a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods through a quasi-experimental study. The target population consists of pediatric patients between the ages of three and eight years …

Clinical Practice Panel: Diabetes Mellitus Management In A Medical-Surgical Unit, Jane Tajonera

2023 South Division Nursing Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Clinical Practice Panel: Stand By Me: Using An Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (Eras)Checklist To Guide Early Mobility Of Postoperative Craniotomy Patients On A Progressive Care Unit, Alyssa Mooney, Jerome Codilla, Joanna Arraiza, Sohl Chapman, Nkiru Chukwudi, Ronald Rosales

2023 South Division Nursing Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Open All Hours!: Bariatric Surgery Patients Love Csc, Naomi Schneider, Mallory Mondloch

Nursing Posters

During the fall and winter of 2020, St. Cloud Hospital saw a dramatic increase in the number of COVID-19 patients. Additionally, elective surgeries in Minnesota were on hold during the early months of the pandemic, and later in 2020 there was a significant backlog of these patients, waiting for their procedure. To serve patients and their families, St. Cloud Hospital teams planned for a way to safely and professionally offer surgical care needs to Central Minnesota.

Perioperative Glucose Monitoring Protocol, Nicole Helgeson

Nursing Posters

Currently, there is no established glucose management protocol for our surgical patients. Poor outcomes related to hyperglycemia may include increased morbidity/mortality, surgical site infection (SSI), sepsis, renal, and cardiac concerns. The purpose of this protocol is to improve the care and outcomes for surgical patients through a consistent standardization of glucose management.

Preoperative Weight Loss For Patients Undergoing Lumbar Spine Surgery Utilizing Motivational Interviewing To Decrease Postoperative Complications: A Quality Improvement Project, Amanda Welle

Nursing Posters

Do patients who are obese, based on BMI>30 and are offered lumbar spine surgery, who undergo preoperative MI via telehealth to lose weight, compared to those who don’t undergo MI have decreased postoperative complications at 30 days postoperatively?

Conclusions/Implications:

• Results from this QI project suggest a higher BMI class is associated with postoperative complications-wound infection.
• However, given the small sample size no conclusions could be drawn
• This QI project should be replicated on a larger scale
• The process for recruitment and intervention is established. The Neurosurgical providers are supportive of the continued study.

Promoting Mobility In Post-Surgical Patients: A Quality Improvement Project, Abel Sawa, Teresa Bigand

2021 Providence Nurse Research Conference

Background: Hospitalized patients suffer negative outcomes related to lack of mobilization activities such as falls with injury or infection. Mobility requires a multi-disciplinary team approach including Registered Nurses (RNs), Certified Nursing Assistants (NA-Cs), and Physical/Occupational Therapists (PT/OTs) to promote best patient outcomes. The Johns Hopkins Culture of Mobility toolkit provides evidence-based practices for integrating multi-disciplinary mobilization efforts for hospitalized patients. This toolkit had not been implemented on a busy orthopedic post-operative nursing unit in one large hospital.

Purpose/aims: To test the impact of the culture of mobility toolkit on caregiver perceptions of mobility barriers and evaluate the implementation …

Effectiveness Of Apfel Simplified Risk Score In Predicting Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting In Day Surgery Unit, Leni Alejo, Cherry De Guia, Cynthia Rodriguez, Cassandra Luck-Bird

2021 Providence Nurse Research Conference

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) continues to be a perioperative complication despite improvement in quality and safety of anesthesia care causing an increased overall healthcare cost and sometimes serious physical complications. The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) supports that risk assessment for PONV helps with its prevention which is in line with the Society of Ambulatory Anesthesia's (SAMBA) current guidelines for PONV management. Literature supports that PONV can be predicted and prevented in patients by assessing risk factors such as gender, smoking status, history of PONV and use of postoperative opioids, among others. At present there is no …

Educating Registered Nurses (Rns) To Improve Knowledge, Comfortability & Ability Of Communication In Advance Care Planning (Acp), Sirena Blount-Sears, Pamela Bishop

College of Health Sciences Posters

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to assess the knowledge, comfortability, and ability to communicate with confidence, along with the usage of communication tools, among Med/Surg RNs r/t to ACP before & after participation in an ACP educational webinar.

Aims: To evaluate whether the knowledge, comfortability, ability to communicate, including usage of communication tools, and confidence among medical-surgical registered nurses related to ACP improves following participation in an ACP educational webinar.

Research Questions/Hypotheses: RQ1: Will there be a significant difference before & after an ACP educational webinar r/t: knowledge, comfortability, ability to communicate with confidence, & the …

A New Approach To Sternal Precautions: Keep Your Move In The Tube, Kelijo Fernholz, Jayna Theis, Erik Anderson

Nursing Posters

Purpose:

• To guide patients and staff in a new approach to sternal precautions following median sternotomy

Current Practice:

• 10-pound lifting restriction for 4 weeks
• 20-pound lifting restriction until 3 months post operation
• Limited arm exercises
• Sit to stand push restrictions

Why Change:

• Literature review demonstrates great variation in sternal precautions
• Currently too restrictive; may hinder recovery and long-term mobility. Too many restrictions can create fear of movement, resulting in short term rehab discharge needs
• To create more independence for the patient, less reliant on family members for ADLs and basic needs. Patients to return to regular home and work activities …

Routine Post Surgical Vital Signs: Time For A Change, Kristina Kjellberg, Elizabeth Plante, Sadie Seezs

Nursing Posters

Purpose Statement:

The purpose of this evidence-based practice project is to evaluate the current routine post operative vital signs and determine if reduced frequency of vital signs is as effective in identifying deterioration after a post anesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge.

Synthesis of Evidence:

• Patient survival in the post operative time period is maximized with the recognition and management of abnormal vital signs
• Post op periods can carry great respiratory and circulatory complications, which are identified by abnormal vital signs especially heart rate and blood pressure
• Multiple sources have identified that current frequency of post operative vital signs is based …

Chloraprep Dry Time, Nikki Jones, Chelsea Dennison, Becca Millard, Kristin Sapp

Nurse Presentations

Describes a project to increase the dry time compliance for solutions used in general surgery in the operating room.

Magnetizing: Post Operative Nausea And Vomiting, Andrea Nyquist

Nursing Posters

Purpose:

To guide nursing care in the early recognition and treatment of PONV.

Prevalence:

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is the most prevalent postoperative complication occuring within 24 hours of surgery.

Risk Factors:

Adults at a higher risk of PONV include:

• Female
• History of PONV, motion sickness and/or gastroparesis
• Postoperative opioid recipient
• Volatile anesthetic and/or nitrous oxide administration intraoperatively
• Pregnancy
• Use of birth control pills

Implications:

PONV can create a plethora of adverse events for the patient: anxiety and a sense of dread, increased risk for bleeding, dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, risk for aspiration and airway obstruction, …

Risk Factors For Vte In Orthopedic Surgery, Kellie Musick

Nurse Presentations

Describes a project to halt the rising incidence of venous thromboembolism in pediatric surgery patients and the underuse of sequential compression devices in the operating room.

Vte Risk Factors: Scd Education And Compliance, Kaly Hayden, Shari Gardner, Baleigh Haag, Alex Wofford

Nurse Presentations

Describes a project to increase the use of sequential compression devices in post-operative patients to prevent venous thromboembolism.

Irrisept: Redefining Irrigation, Nicole Koening

Nursing Posters

IrriSept is the only FDA-Cleared device that delivers a pressurized solution containing Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) for cleansing and debridement. As a final rinse, prior to closure in surgical procedures, IrriSept has the potential to help reduce SSIs and associated treatment costs. IrriSept was developed with the goal of becoming the "Standard of Care" and improving patient outcomes.

IrriSept has a wide range of activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, fungi, and viruses. It has demonstrated antimicrobial efficacy and persistence in laboratory testing.

Implementing Lean Daily Management System To Improve Cvor First Case On-Time Starts, Haley Borchers, Kelly Fehlhafer, Barbara Mueller, Jessica Nichols, Sarah Talken, Mary Hunter, Kenneth Sam

Posters

No abstract provided.

Quality Leadership Academy: Cauti Reduction Project, Melissa Fradette

Nursing Posters

Plan:

In the fiscal years of 2014 and 2015, 31 out of 66 (47%) catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) were acquired in patients with neurological diagnoses. This led to increased costs, decreased reimbursement, and hospital-acquired condition penalties. A thorough review of CAUTIs revealed 15 of the 31 (48%) were attributed to insertion practices; infections were acquired within 6 days of urinary catheter insertion. Eleven of the 15 (73%) were inserted in the operating room (OR).

Pre-Implementation Of A Fontan Post-Operative Clinical Pathway: Summary Of 2016 Pdsa Cycles, Sarah M. Lagergren, Bryan Beaven, Suma Goudar, Megan Jensen

Posters

Background/Introduction: Post-operative hospitalization for the Fontan procedure tends to have an extended hospital length of stay (LOS). From 2013-2014, the average LOS at Children’s Mercy for the Fontan procedure is 14 days, whereas the U.S. national reported average is 11 days. Post-operative management of this patient population is often caregiver dependent. It has been theorized that developing a more standardized post-operative management regimen tailored specifically toward the unique physiology of Fontan patients may be able to improve outcomes and decrease LOS.

Methods: A review of literature was performed and revealed three pediatric institutions have published their post-operative Fontan care guidelines. …