Back to Basics: Unplanned Patient Hypothermia

Unplanned perioperative hypothermia is a common occurrence and can negatively affect a patient's postoperative course. Perioperative nurses are responsible for identifying patients at risk for hypothermia and working with the entire surgical team to prevent this complication from occurring. Multiple interventions can be implemented to address hypothermia, including active or passive warming and warm IV and irrigation fluids. This Back to Basics article addresses patient assessment concerns, identifies a variety of evidence‐based interventions that can prevent or mitigate perioperative patient temperature changes, and provides basic steps for perioperative RN s to follow to help prevent perioperative hypothermia in their patients.