AORN journal
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Hypothermia is one of the most common problems that patients experience in the perioperative environment. Hypothermia causes more problems for the patient than the mere unpleasant experience of feeling cold. ⋯ Many of the nursing interventions that are successful in preventing hypothermia and restoring body heat to surgical patients, such as applying a warmed blanket to a patient's body, seem straightforward. Understanding the cause and effects of inadvertent hypothermia, however, is essential in recognizing it and implementing the most effective nursing interventions.
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Nursing regulations exist to protect and benefit the health, safety, and welfare of the individual. Accountability is a multifaceted concept with many interpretations. ⋯ Ultimately, nurses are accountable to themselves, their patients, and their peers for their professional nursing actions. This article addresses regulatory statutes and other issues of importance in the perioperative setting, including ethical and legal considerations, patient advocacy, delegation of tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel, and selected expanded roles in perioperative nursing practice.