March 2014 Vol 99 No 3
THERESA SANDS BSN, RN, CNOR OPERATING ROOM, CLINICAL NURSE PERIOPERATIVE SERVICES TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL DALLAS DALLAS, TX PATRICIA KELLY DNP, APRN, CNS, AOCN RESEARCH/EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE/ GENOMICS CENTER FOR ADVANCING PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL DALLAS DALLAS, TX MARY KROGH RN, CPAN, PACU CLINICAL NURSE PERIANESTHESIA SERVICES TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL DALLAS DALLAS, TX http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2014.01.005
References 1. Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. Denver, CO: AORN, Inc; 2013. 2. Recommended practices for a safe environment of care. In: Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. Denver, CO: AORN, Inc; 2013:217-242. 3. Bujdoso PJ. Blanket warming: comfort and safety. AORN J. 2009;89(4):717-722. 4. ECRI Institute. Warming cabinets. Oper Room Risk Manag. 2010;2(Surgery 7). 5. ECRI Institute. Limiting temperature settings on blanket and solution warming cabinets can prevent patient burns. Health Devices. 2005;34(5):168-171. 6. Sutton LT, Baker FS, Faile NJ, Tavakoli A. A quasiexperimental study examining the safety profile and comfort provided by two different blanket temperatures. J Perianesth Nurs. 2012;27(3):181-192. 7. Kelly PA, Cooper SK, Krogh ML, et al. Thermal comfort and safety of cotton blankets warmed at 130 F and 200 F. J Perianesth Nurs. 2013;28(6):337-346. 8. Moritz AR, Henriques FC Jr. Studies of thermal injury: II: the relative importance of time and surface temperature in the causation of cutaneous burns. Am J Pathol. 1947;23(5): 695-720.
Author response. The AORN recommended practices (RP) documents are based on the highest level of evidence available at the time the document is developed or revised. The review, revision, and 354 j AORN Journal
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR final publication of AORN RP documents is a lengthy process, requiring several months to complete. The review process begins with a search of the literature in an effort to find current published research and other nonresearch evidence related to the topic at hand. The “Recommended practices for a safe environment of care”1 review process began early in 2011. The AORN medical librarian conducted a systematic literature search of the databases MEDLINEÒ, CINAHLÒ, ScopusÒ, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for meta-analyses, randomized and nonrandomized trials and studies, systematic and nonsystematic reviews, and opinion documents and letters. The search was limited to articles published in English and between the years 2005 and 2011. The recommendation related to the temperature of blanket warmers is based on the evidence that was published and available at the time of the review of the “Recommended practices for a safe environment of care.”1 Had the commendable research articles by Kelly et al2 and Sutton et al3 been published within the time frame of the literature search, this evidence would certainly have been identified and included in the literature review and evidence appraisal process. Thank you for bringing this research to our attention; we will be reviewing this and other evidence, and will review the “Recommended practices for a safe environment of care”1 document, which is currently scheduled for 2014. AORN encourages perioperative RNs to use evidence-based practice as the foundation upon which to base patient care. Keeping current on all the rapidly emerging evidence is a daunting endeavor, and AORN is dedicated to providing support through each of the documents in the Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices.4 Although we review and update the RP documents approximately every three to five years, new evidence will emerge after a new or revised RP document has been published. Compliance with the AORN recommended practices is voluntary. As new compelling evidence
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR arises, health care organizations and individual perioperative RNs may deviate from the recommendation based on new evidence after careful and systematic evaluation. The decision to change practice should be based on the application of a credible evidence-based model, such as the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model and Guidelines.5 RAMONA CONNER MSN, RN, CNOR MANAGER, STANDARDS AND RECOMMENDED PRACTICES AORN NURSING DEPARTMENT DENVER, CO http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2014.01.006
Editor’s notes: MEDLINE is a registered trademark of the US National Library of Medicine’s Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System,
www.aornjournal.org
Bethesda, MD. CINAHL, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, is a registered trademark of EBSCO Industries, Birmingham, AL. Scopus is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands. References 1. Recommended practices for a safe environment of care. In: Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. Denver, CO: AORN, Inc; 2013:217-242. 2. Kelly PA, Cooper SK, Krogh ML, et al. Thermal comfort and safety of cotton blankets warmed at 130 F and 200 F. J Perianesth Nurs. 2013;28(6):337-346. 3. Sutton LT, Baker FS, Faile NJ, Tavakoli A. A quasiexperimental study examining the safety profile and comfort provided by two different blanket temperatures. J Perianesth Nurs. 2012;27(3):181-192. 4. Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. Denver, CO: AORN, Inc; 2014. 5. Newhouse RP, Dearholt SL, Poe SS, Pugh LC, White KM. Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model and Guidelines. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International; 2007.
The AORN Journal welcomes letters for its “Letters to the Editor” column. Letters must refer to Journal articles or columns published within the preceding six months. All letters are subject to editing for length and clarity before publication. Authors of articles or columns referenced in the letter to the editor may be given the opportunity to respond. Letters that are included in the “Letters to the Editor” column must contain the writer’s name; credentials if applicable; position or title; and employer’s name, city, and state. Please submit letters by e-mail to [email protected] and reference “Letter to the Editor” in the subject line, or submit letters by mail to AORN Journal, Letters to the Editor, 2170 S Parker Rd, Suite 400, Denver, CO 80231-5711.
AORN Journal j 355
THERESA SANDS BSN, RN, CNOR OPERATING ROOM, CLINICAL NURSE PERIOPERATIVE SERVICES TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL DALLAS DALLAS, TX PATRICIA KELLY DNP, APRN, CNS, AOCN RESEARCH/EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE/ GENOMICS CENTER FOR ADVANCING PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL DALLAS DALLAS, TX MARY KROGH RN, CPAN, PACU CLINICAL NURSE PERIANESTHESIA SERVICES TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL DALLAS DALLAS, TX http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2014.01.005
References 1. Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. Denver, CO: AORN, Inc; 2013. 2. Recommended practices for a safe environment of care. In: Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. Denver, CO: AORN, Inc; 2013:217-242. 3. Bujdoso PJ. Blanket warming: comfort and safety. AORN J. 2009;89(4):717-722. 4. ECRI Institute. Warming cabinets. Oper Room Risk Manag. 2010;2(Surgery 7). 5. ECRI Institute. Limiting temperature settings on blanket and solution warming cabinets can prevent patient burns. Health Devices. 2005;34(5):168-171. 6. Sutton LT, Baker FS, Faile NJ, Tavakoli A. A quasiexperimental study examining the safety profile and comfort provided by two different blanket temperatures. J Perianesth Nurs. 2012;27(3):181-192. 7. Kelly PA, Cooper SK, Krogh ML, et al. Thermal comfort and safety of cotton blankets warmed at 130 F and 200 F. J Perianesth Nurs. 2013;28(6):337-346. 8. Moritz AR, Henriques FC Jr. Studies of thermal injury: II: the relative importance of time and surface temperature in the causation of cutaneous burns. Am J Pathol. 1947;23(5): 695-720.
Author response. The AORN recommended practices (RP) documents are based on the highest level of evidence available at the time the document is developed or revised. The review, revision, and 354 j AORN Journal
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR final publication of AORN RP documents is a lengthy process, requiring several months to complete. The review process begins with a search of the literature in an effort to find current published research and other nonresearch evidence related to the topic at hand. The “Recommended practices for a safe environment of care”1 review process began early in 2011. The AORN medical librarian conducted a systematic literature search of the databases MEDLINEÒ, CINAHLÒ, ScopusÒ, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for meta-analyses, randomized and nonrandomized trials and studies, systematic and nonsystematic reviews, and opinion documents and letters. The search was limited to articles published in English and between the years 2005 and 2011. The recommendation related to the temperature of blanket warmers is based on the evidence that was published and available at the time of the review of the “Recommended practices for a safe environment of care.”1 Had the commendable research articles by Kelly et al2 and Sutton et al3 been published within the time frame of the literature search, this evidence would certainly have been identified and included in the literature review and evidence appraisal process. Thank you for bringing this research to our attention; we will be reviewing this and other evidence, and will review the “Recommended practices for a safe environment of care”1 document, which is currently scheduled for 2014. AORN encourages perioperative RNs to use evidence-based practice as the foundation upon which to base patient care. Keeping current on all the rapidly emerging evidence is a daunting endeavor, and AORN is dedicated to providing support through each of the documents in the Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices.4 Although we review and update the RP documents approximately every three to five years, new evidence will emerge after a new or revised RP document has been published. Compliance with the AORN recommended practices is voluntary. As new compelling evidence
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR arises, health care organizations and individual perioperative RNs may deviate from the recommendation based on new evidence after careful and systematic evaluation. The decision to change practice should be based on the application of a credible evidence-based model, such as the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model and Guidelines.5 RAMONA CONNER MSN, RN, CNOR MANAGER, STANDARDS AND RECOMMENDED PRACTICES AORN NURSING DEPARTMENT DENVER, CO http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aorn.2014.01.006
Editor’s notes: MEDLINE is a registered trademark of the US National Library of Medicine’s Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System,
www.aornjournal.org
Bethesda, MD. CINAHL, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, is a registered trademark of EBSCO Industries, Birmingham, AL. Scopus is a registered trademark of Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands. References 1. Recommended practices for a safe environment of care. In: Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. Denver, CO: AORN, Inc; 2013:217-242. 2. Kelly PA, Cooper SK, Krogh ML, et al. Thermal comfort and safety of cotton blankets warmed at 130 F and 200 F. J Perianesth Nurs. 2013;28(6):337-346. 3. Sutton LT, Baker FS, Faile NJ, Tavakoli A. A quasiexperimental study examining the safety profile and comfort provided by two different blanket temperatures. J Perianesth Nurs. 2012;27(3):181-192. 4. Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices. Denver, CO: AORN, Inc; 2014. 5. Newhouse RP, Dearholt SL, Poe SS, Pugh LC, White KM. Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model and Guidelines. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International; 2007.
The AORN Journal welcomes letters for its “Letters to the Editor” column. Letters must refer to Journal articles or columns published within the preceding six months. All letters are subject to editing for length and clarity before publication. Authors of articles or columns referenced in the letter to the editor may be given the opportunity to respond. Letters that are included in the “Letters to the Editor” column must contain the writer’s name; credentials if applicable; position or title; and employer’s name, city, and state. Please submit letters by e-mail to [email protected] and reference “Letter to the Editor” in the subject line, or submit letters by mail to AORN Journal, Letters to the Editor, 2170 S Parker Rd, Suite 400, Denver, CO 80231-5711.
AORN Journal j 355
