title: Creating a safer perioperative environment with an obstructive sleep apnea screening tool.
abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition that increases the risk of complications for patients undergoing sedation and/or general anesthesia. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to promote evidence-based practice for nurses to screen patients with OSA in the perioperative setting. A step-by-step team process was implemented using the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice in a shared leadership environment at an acute care facility to educate staff and evaluate the practice change. A pilot project reviewed patient data pre- and post-implementation of an OSA screening tool, which revealed evidence of safer patient care. As a result of incorporating an OSA assessment, patient advocacy and a safer perioperative environment was created.
authors.affiliation: UPMC Shadyside Hospital, 5230 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA. lakdawalald@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lakdawala
mesh_terms: D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D019990:Perioperative Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis*