[Oh_are_nurse]

Hello! (I am a little long winded but here it is....)

OK when I say "just out" of the OR internship, I really got out in December and got oriented on deep nights until beginning of March.

Well, more so than my other collegues in the internship, I felt a little nervous about starting deep nights. I had seen (only observed) a trauma, it was a GSW and only observed in CV for a week. I've been two months on my own - I've gotten adequately skilled in general emergencies such as exploratory laps and lap appys, PV, gyn and even ortho. Since it is deep nights, we have only two teams going all night (the other team is located in another part of the hospital but they frequently come to our OR to pick up cases). I feel about 98% confident that I will be able to handle whatever rolls through our doors...EXCEPT (which brings me to my question)...Acending Aortic Aneurysms. There's lots of info out there for thoracic and decending but not much on acending.

I have not seen one at all and from the talks of my co-workers, they do come - sometimes in spurts. My intership text (Operating Room Techniques) and the internet does not give very much information on the steps and instruments used on this case. I've gone to the medical library and have found zilch. I am anxious every night that this will come it...

My question to all the brilliant heart nurses out there is....Is there any text/article/resource that I could be directed to so that I can be prepared (steps and instruments used) when one of these critical patients come through the doors?

By the way, I am an RN and for the most part, I will be circulating however we are also required to scrub if needed. I don't want to jeopardize the patient because I didn't take it upon myself to research and learn this procedure.

Thanks so much in advance!

[SandraHeartTeamRN]

Do you have a Heart/CV Team??

We made up boxes containing supplies to pull for these cases, all that is added is the instruments. As far as instrumentaion talk to your surgeons, tell them you are trying to learn and ask what to them is the first couple things you need to have ready.

Good luck and welcome to the OR

[Fun2Care]

I haven't started my internship yet, but I really think researching any possible cases is a great idea.

Does your manager have any input on this? I think there should be a "Kardex" of instruments, so to speak, for each case's needs.


Then, each physician would have her or his own additional desires as far as instrumentation, etc to add to the basic needs.