Special Considerations in the Perioperative Environment for Registered Nurses

Golden Hour of Trauma Care

This term refers to the timeframe immediately following the injury when rapid and definitive interventions result in reducing mortality and morbidity.

The Golden Hour starts at the scene of the injury, where first responders:

C:\Users\RMurphy\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word\pexels-cottonbro-4874515.jpg

Identify the severity of the injury

C:\Users\RMurphy\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word\pexels-mikhail-nilov-8942731.jpg

Initiate medical treatment

C:\Users\RMurphy\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Word\pexels-pixabay-263402.jpg

Identify the most appropriate hospital the patient should be transferred to

Phases of Deaths from Trauma

Traumatic deaths may occur in three phases.

(Gawronski, 2019)

OR Nursing Considerations

OR nurses often have little information about trauma patients in comparison to patients scheduled for elective surgery. Most often preparations for the procedures are rapid. It is important for OR nurses to have some knowledge about the mechanism of injury (MOI), or forces that caused the injury, so that they can quickly assess the trauma patient.

Examples of Mechanism of Injury

Direct Blow to Anterior Tibia

Hyperextension Injury

Dashboard Injury

Fall onto Flexed Knee with Foot in Plantarflexion

(Gawronski, 2019)

Examples of Trauma Injuries