Bringing a parent in the room for induction questions.

[thebonster]

I would really like to know how others manage parents in the operating rooms.

What kind of criteria does a parent/child/surgery have that makes it appropriate for the parent to be there and also to not allow a parent in the room? What kind of teaching material is given to parents and kids pre-op? Who teaches and re-enforces the material? What happens when there is a language barrier? What exactly is the parents role once they and the child enter the room? Who leaves the room once the child is sleeping to escort the parent back to holding?

My facility is very inconsistent with a parent/caregiver of a child being allowed in the OR for induction. It is pretty much up to the anesthesia in the room to say yes or no, or there are some nurses strongly against it.

In our hospital NONE of the kids are premedicated EVER. There is no teaching done during admission to prepare the parent or child what to expect in the OR. So in holding anesthesia goes over the basics and then the circulating nurse has essentially 5 minutes to prepare a parent for everything. We get them dressed in the hat, disposable gown and booties, and then guide them and the child down the hall past all the lovely sights, sounds and smells and into the room. Sometimes a parent will hold the child on thier lap or the child lays on the table for the inhalation induction. (I pray that the excitement phase isn't too "exciting" and freaks out the parent) Then the circulating nurse leaves prior to intubation to escort the parent back to holding. Somedays it works fine and other days....not so much.

Looking forward to reponses and getting some ideas to fix our many shortfalls!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

We don't allow parents in the OR (or non-staff other than students) period. About 99% of our elective cases get PO Versed 10-15min prior to rolling back. Emergent cases get Versed in 99.9% of cases, either PO or IV. Still no parents in the OR. We will let them walk with the litter/crib from preop to the line where hats/scrubs/masks are required, but that's it.

[imjamie]

The hospital that I just left allows no parents for infants 0-12 months, but allows 1 parent in the room for kids 1-10 years old. They are just there until the child drifts off then are escorted out immediately before the intubation.

[fracturenurse]

We don't allow parents at my hospital, the others I worked a didn't allow it either. Don't know if this helps or not.