Perioperative normothermia: nurses perspective

Abstract

Background: hypothermia is a frequent complication during the anesthetic-surgical procedure, and the operating room nurse is fundamental to ensure normothermia in perioperative care. Objective: to study the nurses' perspective on the normothermia in the perioperative period. Methodology: qualitative, exploratory and descriptive study. Ten nurses working in the operating room, participated, voluntarily, in the study. To collect data, we used a semi-structured interview, which was subsequently submitted to a content analysis. Results: i) the importance of normothermia in perioperative care is oriented to promote the safety of the surgical patient; ii) The normothermia as a monitoring target, as a gained importance through the recognition and use of procedures, identification of signs, symptoms or complications, and the use of thermal comfort assessment. Conclusion: it was showcased the importance of maintaining normothermia to guarantee the safety and comfort of the surgical patient. Proper clinical records and the use of the thermal comfort assessment appear as weaknesses in the perioperative care. It is underlined the need to assure strategies in the normothermia in perioperative care.