contaminating myself

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Hi guys

I am an RN in the OR, I scrub and circulate. I have finished doing both in general and am starting neuro. My problem is I contaminate myself, any suggestions? I 95% percent of the time realize it before someone points it out to me. But i have so much on my mind trying to learn all this. Anyway it makes me feel so stupid. I do better circulating then scrubbing but we are required to do both. Any suggestions???

Pam

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

Hi Pam.

I had the same trouble when i started scrubbing. I'd scratch my nose etc because it was so automatic. And i felt so annoyed with myself. It takes time to learn these things and as long as your aware that you've contaminated yourself/items and do the right thing then your doing well.

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Be patient with yourself: you're trying to change a lifetime of habits such as scratching your nose, adjusting your clothing, etc. It'll come

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Hi Pam,

I agree with Brewer it does take a while to change a lifetime of habits. A couple of suggestions from my OR educator: even when you're not sterile/scrubbed in try to walk with your hands together like you're resting them on your stomach- this helps with you not dropping your hands to your side. I had a habit of putting my hands behind my back or just relaxed by my sides. If you do this everyday at home or out in public you'll find that you will do this without thinking. Remind yourself that your face or neck-not sterile, you can use a code word or picture a stop sign in your mind when you're about to scratch an itch or adjust protective eyewear, etc. If you have an itch or have to adjust glasses i've notice some people use a sterile towel on the field to wipe, scratch or adjust and then toss it off right away when they're done. Just be patient, it'll come to you.

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thanks guys, for all the good suggestions. Its been almost 5 months, i rotate between scrubbing and circulating. I am pretty good at not touching my face and such, but I bump into things like the microscope etc. That is the only complaint that my preceptors have is that I dont quite have the sterile conscousness yet. When Im learning so many new things, I put the other to the back of my brain. I do like the job tho so I cant wait till it all comes very natural!!!!

hugs

pam:idea:

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

awww, Pam! Bless your heart! You'll be fine, Honey!! It happens to EVERYBODY when first starting out! Be patient with yourself. It least you are catching your mistakes! You won't even have to think about that issue before too long--I PROMISE!!

*hugs*

ebear

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thanks for the reply and support!!! It is getting better but I would have thought after 5 months I would be over that. But we do have small rooms with alot of equipment in them. I am scrubbing neuro right now, I finished general.

thanks again

pam

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You will be fine. As the others have said, "it comes with time."

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