Denise H. Tola

Surgical team members use fire risk assessment tools to determine the risk of a surgical fire occurring and facilitate communication to reduce risk. The purposes of this quality improvement project were to improve knowledge and awareness of surgical fire risk and increase practitioners’ use of a fire risk assessment tool during the surgical safety communication process. We recruited a purposive sample of participants that included all surgical team members of a metropolitan ambulatory surgical center. We based the educational intervention on published evidence and findings of a preintervention knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) survey. We assessed knowledge, current practice, and practice intent using a 10‐item pretest and posttest, and used a follow‐up posttest to assess knowledge retention and practice change. The findings suggest that a brief educational intervention regarding fire risk assessment contributes to improving staff member knowledge and use of prevention strategies.

Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is a lifesaving technique performed by advanced practice nurses when patients require endotracheal intubation but are at risk for gastric aspiration. In the acute care setting, the procedure often is indicated when critically ill or injured patients exhibit difficulty maintaining a patent airway and/or are displaying inadequate oxygenation and ventilation. The goal of this article is to provide advanced practice nurses with information that promotes safe and effective clinical decision making during RSI on the basis of the current state of the science. Standard RSI practices in stable patients are reviewed, and the need for individualized modifications of this “ideal” practice in unstable, critically ill patients is addressed. Factors predisposing a patient to difficult airway management, proper equipment, and patient preparation are highlighted, along with the relevant pharmacology. Finally, prevention of potential complications during RSI in the acute care setting is discussed.