Consents or Con - sense?

[inspir8tion]

hi,

i am a new nurse in an operating room program and have some question about consents.

does your hospital require that every line be filled in before you can bring the patient into the or from the par?

if yes, do the rns in your facility enforce that rule?

the rns where i work are supposed to enforce this. many times the surgeon will throw a 10 minute tantrum instead of doing a 2 second job (filling the form out completely). how do you handle that?

thanks for the advice,

elizabeth

[TracyB,RN, RN]

I just watch while the surgeon has a hissy fit. After a few times of cases starting late, it seems to cure itself.

[ortess1971]

I just watch while the surgeon has a hissy fit. After a few times of cases starting late, it seems to cure itself.

Yeah, what she said! We've also had problems with H&P's not being done and that patient does not go to the room if the paperwork isn't in order. Those forms go in the chart, and are legal documents so it is imperative that they are filled out correctly. The surgeon can whine and stamp his/her feet all they want, I don't intimidate easily and sometimes a doc's hissy fit can provide some much needed comic relief!

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I just watch while the surgeon has a hissy fit. After a few times of cases starting late, it seems to cure itself.

Same here.

[inspir8tion]

Thanks.

How would you handle most of the other nurses not enforcing having a complete consent before rolling into the OR?

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Report them, since technically they are breaking the rules, in other words, compromising pt. safety.

One of the biggest problems with the enforcement of policies is the inconsistancy of the enforcement.

[inspir8tion]

One of the biggest problems with the enforcement of policies is the inconsistancy of the enforcement.

You're right, the inconsistancy is what is the problem. I will bring it to management's attention and see what happens, but I don't have high hopes.

[mekrn]

Wow, I thought only we had this problem. H&P and consent DEFINATELY required to go into the room! We are constantly getting grief for this, as if it is new or something! I'm wondering how many others have problems with patients not going to PAT requiring everything to be done on admit. Otherwise known as "my doctor told me you would do it here". We spend sooo much time time doing labs, EKG, CXR in addition to our lovely new and very time-consuming computerized charting. If the patients would just go to PAT, and the docs had the paperwork on the charts, everything would move so much faster!

[crackerjack]

Ya, we have docs, MS, residents, anesthesiology and all sorts complaining about not getting in the room 'on time' as if it is the nurse's fault all of this wasn't filled out promptly so the almighty time god can be served. I recently had an anesthesiologist pull me aside and ask surely we aren't going to let that (lack of doc's sig on consent) keep us from going to the room. I just looked at him all sheepishly and told him well we aren't supposed to but you can go talk to if you want. ROFLMAO not another word was said and we waited on the doc to hussle his hiney in the room and sign it so we could go to the room.

Mind you, I can get by with it in that manner because I'm still a newb and it doesn't come off as being a smart@$$. He also knew the ace had been played when he tried to manipulate the newb and she sent him straight to the top to argue his case. hehehe

[inspir8tion]

Thanks for all your replies!