Publication Date
Spring 2026
Presentation Length
Poster/Gallery presentation
College
Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing
Department
Nursing, School of
Student Level
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor
Linda Wofford
Presentation Type
Poster
Summary
Peri-Op Protect: A Unified Pre-Op to PACU Medication Reconciliation System
Peri-Op Protect is a nurse-led change initiative designed to improve medication safety and communication during surgical patient transitions from pre-operative care through the operating room and into the post-anesthesia care unit at a local hospital. Transitions of care are among the most vulnerable moments in the surgical process, as critical medication information – including home medications, last doses, allergies, intraoperative medications, and pain management plans – must be accurately communicated across multiple teams. Communication breakdowns are a leading contributor to adverse events in healthcare, and inconsistent medication handoff processes can result in missed medications, duplicate dosing, delays in treatment, or preventable patient harm. This project proposes a unified, structured paper medication reconciliation document that follows the patient throughout the perioperative process, ensuring consistent and clear medication communication between care teams. Implementation will occur over a 12-week period and include four phases: standardized document design with nurse input (weeks 1-3), staff education and nurse champion identifications through brief in- service training (weeks 4-6), unit-wide rollout of the system (weeks 7-10), and evaluation with adjustments based on feedback (weeks 11-12). A consolidation and sustainability phase will follow (weeks 13–24), allowing stabilization within unit workflows while outcome data collection continues. Project outcomes measures include nurse satisfaction surveys, medication- related incident reports, documentation completion rates, and time required for charting. Expected outcomes include 25% increase in nurse satisfaction with medication handoffs and 15% reduction in medication-related communication errors within six months. Project sustainability includes follow-up meetings with nurse champions and identifying improvements in the medication reconciliation document.
Recommended Citation
Van Note, Tyler G.; Anast, Ariana Amalia; Steiner, Samantha Ashley; and Gilbert, Tara, "Peri-Op Protect: A Unified Pre-Op to PACU Medication Reconciliation System" (2026). SPARK Symposium Presentations. 906.
https://repository.belmont.edu/spark_presentations/906
Included in
Nursing Administration Commons, Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing Commons
