Do I need a Stethoscope????

Well, yes and no.

Typically our circulators have one of the $14.99 ones around their neck, so in case a doc needs to do a quick assessment, they'll let them borrow their scopes for it. That's the only reason i've seen a nurse wear one in the OR where i work.

Pre-op and post-op, yes, you ought to have one.

Never seen any nurse where I work wear one in the OR. Grab one from anesthesia if for some reason you ever needed one.

I've been in the OR for 20+ years and never needed one.

[color=darkslategray]i have one in my locker, but in all honesty, in the past 2 years i've been here, i have not used it once. a lot depends upon the place you'll be working and what your responsibilities will be. go from there.

i have one in my locker, but in all honesty, in the past 2 years i've been here, i have not used it once. a lot depends upon the place you'll be working and what your responsibilities will be. go from there.

i actually have one of those big clunky sprague ones, from nsg school, but was wondering if i actually needed one on a daily basis..... i think i will get a cheapo basic one, to keep on hand....thanks again guys, i love having all of you as a resource!!!!!

(i only wish i knew about this site wehn i was in nsg school!!!!)

My feeling on this? Doc should have done their assessment already, and if they have not, it is their responsiblity to find their own. History and Physical should have been on the chart and completed before going into the OR. That is policy at most facilites, and actually it is supposed to be all, per JCAHO.

And i was refering to the times (few) when a pt. comes down and the H and P needs updated, not like it happens all the time. We are not violating JCAHO.

Again, that should be done before the patient actually enters the operating room...............what if the case needs to be cancelled then?

It's not done IN the room, it is done outside of the room (at the holding area). Again, we're not violating our policy or JCAHO.

Marie,

Hope that you don't take my post as being curt, but if you notice that all of us "old" RNs in the OR do not ever use a stethescope there. It is a physician's responsibility to make sure that everything is done before the patient leaves the pre-op area, too late when they get to the room. Every facility that I have ever worked at, would not permit the patient to even be taken back until the update has also been taken care of. Too many what if's have happened in the past. And then the surgeon tries to pass it off on to the staff. Save your skin and neck, and don't do it.

Curt, no, but quite honestly, and not to sound like i'm some know-it-all, you're not informing me of anything that i'm not already aware of. If i don't know the policy and procedure for my dept. no matter what my job title, i should even be in there, or even in healthcare for that matter.