Hats, masks and bonnets in the OR suite

[Qwiigley, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, CRNA]

What is your institutions policy on ANESTHESIA personnel wearing their own hats and bonnets? (instead of disposable) Can you wear warmup jackets? Are you allowed to wear shirts under your scrubs? What about reading material?

Is your policy based on evidence-based practice? (research not anedotal evidence) Can you give example of research articles that I may read further?

So far I have found a trend in the UK of less and less demand for anesthesia behind the ether curtain wearing masks. There are several hospitals here in Southern California that do not require anesthesia to wear masks in most cases. (total joints are exceptions).

The articles so far that suggested that infection rates increase with use of custom hats, jackets and tshirts have all been written without actual research being done. Like I said, total joints with special laminar flow rooms are the exception. Those rooms/cases have specific requirements.

[Qwiigley, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, CRNA]

We will be changing our policy soon, so the more information I can get the better. What do you all have??

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

We will be changing our policy soon, so the more information I can get the better. What do you all have??

Everyplace I have worked so far it wasn't a problem for anesthesia to wear their own hats or warm up jackets. That includes the DC VA, Children's Hospital in Dayton Ohio, two military facilities (National Naval Medical Center aka The President's Hospital and Walter Reed Medical Center), and a community hospital in Delaware.

[PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN]

This is interesting. Would love this info too...please post!

[loveanesthesia]

We can wear our own hats, but need to cover them with the paper hats. Can wear warm up jackets provided by the hospital, but not our own. Can wear short sleeved t-shirts, but no 'turtle neck' shirts. One thing about wearing your own clothes, you may be taking MRSA into your home. Some of the CRNAs I work with don't like our policies, personally I'm happy to have someone do the washing.

[Qwiigley, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, CRNA]

I've contacted our hospital librarian and asked him to look for research on this issue. If I get anything worth posting, I will.

[foraneman]

Would be interested in whether any research has been done on this over the last few years. To be sure the practice of masks, hats and shoe covers as well as lab coats etc. began WITHOUT ANY scientific basis whatsoever!! It just 'seemed' like a good idea! yet if you walk through the OR hall way without a hat you will be unlikely to get ten feet without the charge nurse screaming yer name at the top of her/his lungs...