The implementation of a standardized warming protocol aims to improve patient outcomes by preventing inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) and its complications in the ambulatory surgical setting. All patients, regardless of age or gender, are at risk for experiencing a 1-2° C drop in body core temperature within thirty minutes of anesthesia induction. The global aim of this project is to prevent IPH and its complications in the ambulatory surgical setting by implementing a warming protocol at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center. While an audit of the microsystem revealed a normothermia rate of 28%, a standardized warming protocol is expected to increase the normothermia rate to 90%. The project is vital because it reduces costs from postoperative complications, promotes best safe practices and quality care, and enhances the patient’s surgical experience and satisfaction.
Based on clinical best practice guidelines recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and American Society of Perianesthesia Nursing, a temperature management policy and warming protocol were implemented. Staff was educated about IPH and its complications, and post-tests and follow-up meetings with each department were held to assess staff understanding. The project is currently an ongoing change, and evaluation of the results is expected to occur in December 2015.
The nursing profession is constantly pressured to find innovative ways to improve patient care, eliminate waste, and maintain affordability through process improvement projects. A process improvement project, such as the warming protocol, is both essential and meaningful when adopted in the ambulatory surgery setting.
","abstract_html":"<p>The implementation of a standardized warming protocol aims to improve patient outcomes by preventing inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) and its complications in the ambulatory surgical setting. All patients, regardless of age or gender, are at risk for experiencing a 1-2° C drop in body core temperature within thirty minutes of anesthesia induction. The global aim of this project is to prevent IPH and its complications in the ambulatory surgical setting by implementing a warming protocol at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center. While an audit of the microsystem revealed a normothermia rate of 28%, a standardized warming protocol is expected to increase the normothermia rate to 90%. The project is vital because it reduces costs from postoperative complications, promotes best safe practices and quality care, and enhances the patient’s surgical experience and satisfaction.</p> <p>Based on clinical best practice guidelines recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and American Society of Perianesthesia Nursing, a temperature management policy and warming protocol were implemented. Staff was educated about IPH and its complications, and post-tests and follow-up meetings with each department were held to assess staff understanding. The project is currently an ongoing change, and evaluation of the results is expected to occur in December 2015.</p> <p>The nursing profession is constantly pressured to find innovative ways to improve patient care, eliminate waste, and maintain affordability through process improvement projects. A process improvement project, such as the warming protocol, is both essential and meaningful when adopted in the ambulatory surgery setting.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Slagle, Joan Abigail"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)","degree_level":"Project/Capstone - Global access","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Catherine Coleman"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-12-18T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-12-18T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:43:04Z","subjects":["hypothermia","perioperative","warming interventions","ambulatory surgery","anesthesia","postanesthesia care unit","Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/161","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Catherine Coleman"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Slagle, Joan Abigail"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2015-08-11T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Project/Capstone - Global access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["hypothermia","perioperative","warming interventions","ambulatory surgery","anesthesia","postanesthesia care unit","Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/161"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The implementation of a standardized warming protocol aims to improve patient outcomes by preventing inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) and its complications in the ambulatory surgical setting. All patients, regardless of age or gender, are at risk for experiencing a 1-2° C drop in body core temperature within thirty minutes of anesthesia induction. The global aim of this project is to prevent IPH and its complications in the ambulatory surgical setting by implementing a warming protocol at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center. While an audit of the microsystem revealed a normothermia rate of 28%, a standardized warming protocol is expected to increase the normothermia rate to 90%. The project is vital because it reduces costs from postoperative complications, promotes best safe practices and quality care, and enhances the patient’s surgical experience and satisfaction.
Based on clinical best practice guidelines recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and American Society of Perianesthesia Nursing, a temperature management policy and warming protocol were implemented. Staff was educated about IPH and its complications, and post-tests and follow-up meetings with each department were held to assess staff understanding. The project is currently an ongoing change, and evaluation of the results is expected to occur in December 2015.
The nursing profession is constantly pressured to find innovative ways to improve patient care, eliminate waste, and maintain affordability through process improvement projects. A process improvement project, such as the warming protocol, is both essential and meaningful when adopted in the ambulatory surgery setting.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Implementation of a Warming Protocol to Prevent Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia in the Ambulatory Surgical Setting"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Catherine Coleman"],"dc:creator":["Slagle, Joan Abigail"],"dc:date.available":["2015-08-11T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The implementation of a standardized warming protocol aims to improve patient outcomes by preventing inadvertent perioperative hypothermia (IPH) and its complications in the ambulatory surgical setting. All patients, regardless of age or gender, are at risk for experiencing a 1-2° C drop in body core temperature within thirty minutes of anesthesia induction. The global aim of this project is to prevent IPH and its complications in the ambulatory surgical setting by implementing a warming protocol at a freestanding ambulatory surgery center. While an audit of the microsystem revealed a normothermia rate of 28%, a standardized warming protocol is expected to increase the normothermia rate to 90%. The project is vital because it reduces costs from postoperative complications, promotes best safe practices and quality care, and enhances the patient’s surgical experience and satisfaction.
Based on clinical best practice guidelines recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and American Society of Perianesthesia Nursing, a temperature management policy and warming protocol were implemented. Staff was educated about IPH and its complications, and post-tests and follow-up meetings with each department were held to assess staff understanding. The project is currently an ongoing change, and evaluation of the results is expected to occur in December 2015.
The nursing profession is constantly pressured to find innovative ways to improve patient care, eliminate waste, and maintain affordability through process improvement projects. A process improvement project, such as the warming protocol, is both essential and meaningful when adopted in the ambulatory surgery setting.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/161"],"dc:subject":["hypothermia","perioperative","warming interventions","ambulatory surgery","anesthesia","postanesthesia care unit","Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing"],"dc:title":["Implementation of a Warming Protocol to Prevent Inadvertent Perioperative Hypothermia in the Ambulatory Surgical Setting"],"thesis:degree_level":["Project/Capstone - Global access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:43:04Z"}