Vaginal preps, help!!

[ORRN0808]

Hi all,

I'm new in a specialty hospital that primarily does OBGYN surgeries. I am not new to the OR, but GYN is new. I know lady partsl preps are constantly debated, but I have been searching and researching this topic with no consistency in answers found- even on AORN. I have seen different RN's do the lady partsl prep all a variety of ways but am trying to develop my own routine and way to do it-- right now I'm way too slow because I can never decide which order is the "right way" to prep in and which sponges/sponge sticks to use in which order for the betadine scrub and solution prep tray. I understand both sides of the logic-- some people say incision outward (with idea that lady parts is "incision area" so start vag first then out to thighs) and others say clean to dirty (start mons pubis, then thighs inward), so I am just confused and want to do the best job I can for my patients.

If you guys could share with me the order you do your lady partsl preps I would really appreciate it!! (ex. start at mons pubis, then down labia middle and both sides before starting on thighs, OR down labia and perineum then one labia/thigh side at a time, AND start at thighs working inward then labia-- OR start at labia and scrub out toward thighs?).

Thanks so much!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

lady partsl prep first, then discard the prep stick. Then do mons/labia with another prep stick that is then discarded. Then thighs. Dirty to clean with reasoning being if anything from dirty gets on clean, it is then cleaned off.

[ORRN0808]

Thanks for your response, Rose Queen! You mean lady partsl vault prep first?

[Argo]

I put in a very wet vag prep stick first, I leave it in while I then do the external lady partsl prep(mons/labia), I then pull out the prep stick and move to the inner thing and another swipe higher on the mons plus a final swipe across the lower buttock/bed crease area.

If an abdominal prep is required, I do that first but with a chloraprep stick.

If a foley is required I do the foley after all the lower prep is complete.

[ORRN0808]

Thank you for your reply!

[gelli.25]

This is what I do:

Insert the lady parts with a betadine paint prep stick - leave it in then start with the external prep (scrub).

Discard the prep stick that was inserted into the lady parts.

Blot dry the betadine scrub (external).

Insert a new prep stick (paint), then discard.

Paint externally with paint.

If it's abdominal and lady partsl...I start with lady partsl prep, then abdominal prep with a chloraprep stick.

Eventually, it becomes 2nd nature.

Just remember betadine scrub never goes into the lady parts, just the paint.

[ORRN0808]

Thank you very much! =)