[pigpen24]

HELP!!! Ob OR Standards
Hi there, I am a scrub tech in L & D and we are having some trouble finding out what the standards are for the OR.

We recently had a supervisor decide that we were going to have the OR open/draped every shift at all times no matter what. Usually we say we can have the OR open for 12 hours as long as its draped. Now some are saying 24 hours (which I strongly disagree) so I decided to investigate.

All the resources I found about length of time open say use asap and dont drape. Most importantly there must be someone monitoring the instruments at all times. This was from the AORN website. My nursing director says we are under a different 'umbrella' than AORN, as an example, we let a family member in during c/s unlike main surgery does.

Does anyone have any resources I could check out or tell me what the standards are at your hospital?

Thanks!!!!

[Marie_LPN, RN]

It's an OR so AORN most definitely applies to you all.

Provide your resources to the supervisor, and then ask her where you can find a copy of her "umbrella".

[ewattsjt]

Surgery is surgery. Set up is to be as close to time of surgery as possible. Covering or draping has been an issue for a while. Do...don't...do...don't...do The problem with draping is the removal. Principles of aseptic technique state that the table is sterile to the edges. It also states that unsterile items are to never cross over a sterile item. With these in mind; how do you uncover it, keeping it sterile? You can't! The edges of the cover are not sterile from where they hang over the edge and you cross the unsterile portion across the entire backtable when you remove the cover!

I think that current AORN standard says you can and must cover if the case is going to open for more than 1 hr before start.

I don't know the length it is suppose to be good for.

[CIRQL8]

Originally Posted by ewattsjt

I think that current AORN standard says you can and must cover if the case is going to open for more than 1 hr before start.

I don't know the length it is suppose to be good for.

AORN does not recommend that a case be 'covered' - in fact, AORN recommends that a case should NOT be covered.

[tessa_RN]

At our hospital the set up for a c-section must be done within 30 minutes of surgery..Like say if the set up is done for a hour before the procedure starts. OB has to fill out a form on why it wasnt done within 30 minutes and so on..We had a question because we cover OB to and that is what our director said because she is over us and OB.

[ewattsjt]

Originally Posted by CIRQL8

AORN does not recommend that a case be 'covered' - in fact, AORN recommends that a case should NOT be covered.

Sorry. I was going off what charge says.

I set up about 30 min before the cases. In our OB suite, we already have the supplies out and ready to open. We only need the gloves for the team and the surgeon's suture.