ALONG FOR THE RIDE There's no reason to constantly reapply blood pressure cuffs along the surgical pathway.

Streamlined Monitoring
Keep Blood Pressure Cuffs on Patients

To increase efficiency in moving patients from one perioperative area to the next, use 1 blood pressure cuff throughout the entire process. Apply the cuff in the pre-op area, and when staff is ready to transport the patient to the operating room, release the connections between the blood pressure machine and cuff. In the OR, attach the cuff connectors to the blood pressure machine there. When the patient is ready to be moved to the PACU, disconnect the cuff for transport and then reconnect it upon arrival in recovery. After removing cuffs at discharge, give them a thorough cleaning before they're put back into service.

Terri Foster, BSN, RN, CNOR
Allegiance Health
Jackson, Mich.
[email protected]