Circulators recovering

tdncRN · Feb 9, 2011

I was a circulator for 2 years and never once recovered my own patient. Always straight to PACU.

djmatte, ADN, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 11, 2011

We've had issues on occasion where the PACU nurses have full slots and a patient is brought out to clear out an OR. In these situations, the CRNA is expected to stay with the patient until a predetermined RN has a slot open. Never seen a circulator do it though.

nrsman1 · Feb 11, 2011

Circulators where I work are required to recover their patients while on call!

GHGoonette, BSN, RN · Feb 11, 2011

Sometimes after hours it is not deemed necessary for our PACU staff to be called out; this applies only where there is not more than one patient or where the patient is being done under local. This includes caesars done under spinal anaesthetic.

At these times the anaesthesia provider must ensure that the patient is fully awake and stable before leaving theater. In other words, the patient is practically ready to go direct from OR to the ward.

However, if it is a long case or the patient is critical, the PACU RN on call is required to come in.

RN1980 · Feb 21, 2011

our circulators would crap on themselves if they had to do anything besides answer phones and run to grab extra equipment for the surgeons.

SandraCVRN · Feb 23, 2011

our circulators would crap on themselves if they had to do anything besides answer phones and run to grab extra equipment for the surgeons.

Glad to know what you think about us...

When I worked in a small 2 OR 25 bed hospital there were 3 RN's, sometimes we circulated, and recovered our own pts, sometimes we did recovery all day. Mostly we all worked together.

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 23, 2011

our circulators would crap on themselves if they had to do anything besides answer phones and run to grab extra equipment for the surgeons.

There's a lot more to being an OR nurse than answering phones and running for extra equipment. Come visit us some day.

Perhaps your "circulators would crap on themselves" because they haven't had the proper training/orientation to recovering patients. Where I work, PACU nurses are required to take the critical care course. Having to send all OR nurses to that course would not only cause havoc with the schedule, it would also take slots in that course away from ER/ICU/PACU/step down units who truly need that course. Our OR nurses also aren't required to maintain ACLS certification. In my opinion, it's not safe to have someone not ACLS certified recovering fresh postops.

RN1980 · Feb 24, 2011

no its not what i think about you..its what i know about the circulators that im exposed to at my hospital. they dont recover jack..

RN1980 · Feb 24, 2011

There's a lot more to being an OR nurse than answering phones and running for extra equipment. Come visit us some day.
Perhaps your "circulators would crap on themselves" because they haven't had the proper training/orientation to recovering patients. Where I work, PACU nurses are required to take the critical care course. Having to send all OR nurses to that course would not only cause havoc with the schedule, it would also take slots in that course away from ER/ICU/PACU/step down units who truly need that course. Our OR nurses also aren't required to maintain ACLS certification. In my opinion, it's not safe to have someone not ACLS certified recovering fresh postops.

dont care to visit you, i see first hand what the or circulators do, and they dont recover at my hosital.

GHGoonette, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2011

Any person circulating does not merely assist the scrub person, but the anaesthesia provider as well. Most circulating nurses at my hospital have sufficient knowledge of the effects of anaesthesia to be able to recover an extubated patient; and no patient should be extubated until breathing spontaneously. If the comment reflects PACU's opinion of OR, it's probably more a case of "mutual feeling" than lack of knowledge.

And it's definitely disturbing that such a lack of respect and cooperation exists between two vital departments.... :down:

sukiathome · Aug 12, 2012

OMG! Our circulators cannot "touch" the patient. When the mgr wanted me to "orient" an OR nurse how to "assess" and pre op a patient; she almost lost it when I informed her: Ok now assess the patient. She said "you mean you expect me to actually touch them?" "why?" I kid you not! But I understand that the OR is a totally different ballgame. They do NOT manage the patient. Anesthesia does. They do not make the decisions. Anesthesia or the Surgeon does. You really can't expect them to do what a PACU nurse does. They work OR for a reason. I enjoy patient care. I enjoy being in charge of my patient. I have yet to meet one OR nurse that does. They want to circulate. Let them do what they do best.