allowing parents in OR?

[penguin2]

What is your hospital's or OR's policy on allowing a parent w/a minor child in the OR ? We leave it up to the anesthesia provider, pretty much they allow one parent, but not if they seem too nervous or anxious about it. They have to leave once the child is asleep and b/f intubation. A nurse has to be there to escort the parent out when it's time.

[Crux1024]

Parent are a not so welcome in my facility's OR (unless they happen to work there). I think its a liability issue. I didnt go back with my son when he had his T&A, I trust the docs enough and the Versed he got before hand made him very pleasant anyway....lol.

[brewerpaul]

I can't see the value of it. Presumably the idea is to help relieve the child's anxiety, but if he or she is premedicated in pre-op, that shouldn't be an issue. Plus, seeing all that cold, hard, scary medical looking stuff in the O.R. might well INCREASE the parent's fears.

[TexasPediRN]

We preop with Valium, Versed, and/or Clonidine and take child back when they are sleepy and relaxed.

The parent may accompany the child to preop holding, but once the child goes through the doors to the OR, the parent is sent to the waiting room. We've never allowed a parent in the OR.

We have had some parents want to be in the OR the entire time with their child - I think not! I cant imagine what the parent would do to the staff when they see the DR cutting their child, or drilling.

[RNOTODAY, BSN, RN]

What is your hospital's or OR's policy on allowing a parent w/a minor child in the OR ? We leave it up to the anesthesia provider, pretty much they allow one parent, but not if they seem too nervous or anxious about it. They have to leave once the child is asleep and b/f intubation. A nurse has to be there to escort the parent out when it's time.

Parents are allowed in, they hold the little ones until they are masked down, or sit with an older child til they are masked down, then they are escorted out...

[IsseyM]

What is your hospital's or OR's policy on allowing a parent w/a minor child in the OR ? We leave it up to the anesthesia provider, pretty much they allow one parent, but not if they seem too nervous or anxious about it. They have to leave once the child is asleep and b/f intubation. A nurse has to be there to escort the parent out when it's time.

Parents are allowed in our pre-op area not in the OR. Once we take the children back, parents are taken to the main surgery lobby.

[meandragonbrett]

We have an induction room where a parent may be present. Then the child is taken to the OR

[ewattsjt]

Parents are only allowed to pre-op, here. The OR is limited to patients only. In the birthing center, one may accompany for a C-section.

[adrienurse, LPN]

I unfortunately have, and never again would ever ever want to see a member of my family unconcious and intubated.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

Parents are allowed in, they hold the little ones until they are masked down, or sit with an older child til they are masked down, then they are escorted out...

This works well for us and the literature supports this as better for the child. Why shouldn't a little child fall asleep in their mother's laps? We do only allow one parent in. Never had a problem. Now, this is for a mask induction. IV inductions, no they don't come in. But some kids don't even get an IV for very short cases and we're not going to give them an IM injection of versed.

[mcmike55]

First off, I want to say that we don't do a ton of kids, mostly T&A's, etc.

We've been pretty good in getting IV's in kids age 8/9 and up in our holding area. Then a little Versed/Fentanyl. In the pre op area, littler kids and ones that are very anxious often get a little PO Versed.

We have never had parents in the OR, not sure that we will ever, not sure I want them there. I've nothing really to stand that statement on,,,,it's just my feelings.

Our standing rule is that you're not to be in the room when a parent, child or other close relative is having surgery. You might pop in prior to induction, a little perk for working in the OR I guess, then leave.

I would think for anyone that does allow parents in, you would have rock solid guidelines. I think I remember hearing one place that had a short checklist. If the parent didn't meet the criteria, no go.

One of our anesthesiologists told a story, where he used to work, I think, about a parent that, as the child started to go under, (in that wet wash rag stage) freaked out, grabbed the child, and ran off with them down the hall.

Probably another Urban Legend, but does tend to make one pause and think.

Mike

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

This works well for us and the literature supports this as better for the child. Why shouldn't a little child fall asleep in their mother's laps? We do only allow one parent in. Never had a problem. Now, this is for a mask induction. IV inductions, no they don't come in. But some kids don't even get an IV for very short cases and we're not going to give them an IM injection of versed.

Two of my boys had surgery under 5 years of age. I think letting the child fall asleep on mom's lap is a good idea. It was hard, even though my first child was medicated, to hand him over to a stranger and have them walk through those doors, knowing there is alot of prep being done while the child is still awake and aware.

With my second child, I got to take him back. I appreciated that very much. So did he.

I just don't see the harm in letting a parent go back until the child is under anesthesia. We can't make decisions based on rare "what-if's?".

If that were the case for OB, no husbands should be allowed to come back because 1 husband out of thousands may have fainted.

Actually, we've had staff faint . ..

steph