Have you gone from a level 1 hhospital to a small community hospital?

michele742 · Aug 30, 2013

Hi there :)

I am an amateur, as I just started in the OR right out of nursing school on July 8th. However, as a circulator in the OR we check in the patient at pre-op and when the case is over we move with anesthesia with the patient to PACU and give report. Don't worry :) It doesn't add much to your time. For example, in pre-op we:

verify the patient's name and DOB

Verify allergies, any loose items (contacts, hearing aids, dentures, etc.)

Any metal in the body?

Last time ate or drank?

Anybody in family have problems with anesthesia?

Any history of blood clots or PE's

Verify with the patient the procedure being done

Any pain?

after interviewing the patient then....

verify the doctor has an updated H&P

verify the consents have been signed and if there is a side that is to be marked, that the doctor has marked it.

if GYN, make sure prego test was done if 55 yr old or younger

Check to see if patient on a Beta blocker

We make sure appropriate antibiotics are on board

We make sure the patient has warm blankets and a surgical cap

then off to surgery we go.

After the surgery is done, this is our 'report' to PACU:

"Patient is (name)"

"type of procedure"

"type of dressings/incisions"

"any allergies noted"

ask if there is anything else the PACU nurse needs, if not - off we go to the next case.

The pre-op interview is quick...and so is the report to PACU. That is pretty much it. If anyone has anything to add, by all means. That is just a quick overview of how it goes :)

As far as 'prepping' ....that takes about 5 -10 minutes...just depends on the patient's size and what type of prep used. it varies, but again, it's not something that will hold you up much...and in places where you are to do these things, it is expected that it will take you more time than say if you didn't have to do those things. After all, someone has to do it...whether it's you or someone else. It is understandable that it will take more time than you are probably used to...and that is ok. :)

and, as far as 'looking awkward'...haha, that's me everyday. You will feel more awkward than you actually appear I'm new, and still working on getting a routine. I'm only about 60 days into my new career.

RNOTODAY, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2013

Thank you, michele... you sound like your off to a great start!!!

ORcircRN · Sep 1, 2013

Hello. In the last year I have gone from a level II with 20 ORs to a level IV rural hospital with one OR. It was 'culture shock' at first, but now that I've gotten the hang of it I find it very fulfilling. The OR circulators in our facility share the many tasks that are normally completed by many different people in a larger hospital. These include scheduling, assembling charts, making the pre-op calls to patients, ordering labs/xray, opening the cases, transporting patients, positioning, prepping, recovering patients, turning over the OR, possibly reprocessing instruments, terminally cleaning the OR, possibly pre-opping/discharging patients, ordering supplies, stocking, etc. All these things take time and our surgeons understand that there may be delays, but also that we work very efficiently as a team to minimize them. We wear many 'hats' so to speak. We also get to know each patient better and can offer a more personalized level of care. It gives me a greater understanding and appreciation for my profession.