Nurses' knowledge of inadvertent hypothermia.
Inadvertent hypothermia can have significant consequences in the perioperative setting. Knowing how to recognize and manage inadvertent hypothermia is an important aspect of perioperative nursing. A quantitative, descriptive study was conducted at an annual perioperative nursing conference to evaluate nurses' knowledge regarding the prevention of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia. Significant variations in responses regarding definitions of hypothermia and normothermia were noted. In addition, nurses identified a plethora of factors that prevent them from maintaining normothermia in their patients. These factors mandate a need for educational interventions and the adoption of practice guidelines in the clinical area.
Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, University College Cork, Ireland.
Josephine
J
Hegarty
Ella
E
Walsh
Aileen
A
Burton
Sheila
S
Murphy
Fionuala
F
O'gorman
Gráinne
G
McPolin
D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000150:complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007494:Ireland; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000451:nursing*; D012307:Risk Factors