Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach

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Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:
A Nursing Process Approach, 3rd edition

Name Date

Unit Position

Instructor/Evaluator: Position

SKILL 6-6

Applying a Forced-Air Warming Device

Goal:The patient returns to and maintain a temperature

of 97.7F to 99.5F (36.5C to 37.5C). Comments

1. Check patient’s chart for the medical order for the use of a
   forced-air warming device.


2. Gather the necessary supplies and bring to the bedside
   stand or overbed table.


3. Perform hand hygiene and put on PPE, if indicated.


4. Identify the patient.


5. Close curtains around bed and close the door to the room,
   if possible. Explain what you are going to do and why you
   are going to do it to the patient.
   6.Assess patient’s temperature.


6. Plug forced-air warming device into electrical outlet. Place
   blanket over patient, with plastic side up. Keep air-hose
   inlet at foot of bed.


7. Securely insert air hose into inlet. Place a lightweight fabric
   blanket over forced-air blanket, according to manufacturer’s
   instructions. Turn machine on and adjust temperature of air
   to desired effect.


8. Remove PPE, if used. Perform hand hygiene.
   10.Monitor patient’s temperature at least every 30 minutes
   while using the forced-air device. If rewarming a patient
   with hypothermia, do not raise temperature more than
   1 C/hour to prevent a rapid vasodilation effect.


9. Discontinue use of forced-air device once patient’s temper-
   ature is adequate and patient can maintain the temperature
   without assistance.


10. Remove device and clean according to agency policy and
    manufacturer’s instructions.

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice