Tech in Surgery Prep / Unit 18 TSC 434 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Prepping the Skin
The idea
Skin preparation applies the antiseptic to the surgical site and surrounding area according to the product's directions and facility policy.
In practice
Follow the general sequence the sources describe. First, confirm the patient's allergies and the correct site. Second, apply the right amount of solution, working from the cleaner area at the incision site outward toward less clean areas. Third, avoid pooling of solution, especially under the patient and near the dispersive pad. Fourth, remove any materials that became soaked with solution. Fifth, allow the full drying time on the label, longer where there is hair or there are skin folds. Sixth, only when the skin is dry are the drapes applied.
Where people slip
Skipping drying time to save a minute risks a fire in an oxygen-rich space and weakens the antiseptic's effect. The surgeon does not begin until the prep has had time to dry completely.
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