[nursecld]

Hi I am looking for some info. I know that covering of OR tables is forbidden...need to be watched, but in the Labor and Delivery setting, this can be very difficut. We at times have to set up our C/S tables then for an extended period of time...some times 5-6 hours, we wait because things change with the fetal monitor strip, or she makes cervical changes. How do we handle this situation from an infection control standard, since tieing up a tech for 2-5 hours is unreasionable and breaking the table down is not cost efficient. Any sugestions or guidelines I can go to for this problem? Thanks.

[suzanne4]

Tape the doors closed..................essentially seal the room so that no one is going in or out. This is the only choice that you have. But sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and tear down the room.

You can also have the room set up, but the packs just not opened, same as we do with an emergency heart room......where things can be set up in just moments, while the patient is being wheeled into the room. That is something that can be readily done. Spread out on the tables and stands.
Counts can be done while the patient is given anesthesia and prepped. Just requires an extra person to start the case.

[nursecld]

Originally Posted by suzanne4

Tape the doors closed..................essentially seal the room so that no one is going in or out. This is the only choice that you have. But sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and tear down the room.

You can also have the room set up, but the packs just not opened, same as we do with an emergency heart room......where things can be set up in just moments, while the patient is being wheeled into the room. That is something that can be readily done. Spread out on the tables and stands.
Counts can be done while the patient is given anesthesia and prepped. Just requires an extra person to start the case.

Thanks for the input...I have considered tapeing the door, but we also have 2 other doors into our OR, one is a direct link in to NICU and the other into our autoclave room....therefore no garrentee of sterlility. Our techs can set up fast, but it's those cases when they say set up...we do...then the strip improves or for what ever reason we decide to hold off....can be for a very long time. Chris

[Marie_LPN, RN]

You mean the sterile table is being left open for up to 5 and 6 hours?