How do you think operating rooms would be affected by a flu pandemic?

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Apr 29, 2009

I'm guessing that all elective cases would be cancelled. Would some O.R. nurses be told to work in the E.R. and med-surg?

If they tell me to go work in the ER or Med/Surg, that's when I'm handing in my resignation. :down: I work in a a large trauma hospital though and there are still way too many car and motorcycle accidents out there. Not to mention shootings, stabbings etc. At most, they may expect us to work outside our specialty, but still in the OR.

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 29, 2009

Elective cases cancelled? HA! Not where I work. We can be stacking up patients in PACU with no beds in the hospital, holding patients in the OR until a PACU bed opens up, starting elective cases at 2300. Cases don't cancel unless the patient gets up and walks out.

As for working in other departments, no way. I don't know their documenting systems (computerized and completely different from ours).

Scrubby · Apr 29, 2009

Elective cases cancelled? HA! Not where I work. We can be stacking up patients in PACU with no beds in the hospital, holding patients in the OR until a PACU bed opens up, starting elective cases at 2300. Cases don't cancel unless the patient gets up and walks out.
As for working in other departments, no way. I don't know their documenting systems (computerized and completely different from ours).

I think we must work at the same hospital

Aneroo, LPN · Apr 29, 2009

In a true pandemic, I think the OP is correct. I would expect elective cases to be taken and every possible bed space be taken by patients (even if that means holding and PACU). In total crisis, you know the basic skills- interview, immunizations, medications that might be needed for public health.

Aneroo, LPN · Apr 29, 2009

Here is a document I found from the AORN. In particular, page 8, there is a small blip that says "If there is a more intense outbreak, nursing staff members may need to be relocated to other areas".

The article looks to be a few years old and only addresses avian and human flu, and SARS.

http://www.aorn.org/docs_assets/55B250E0-9779-5C0D-1DDC8177C9B4C8EB/A32A54E8-17A4-49A8-867E5E2E063925FF/AGS_Human_and_Avian_Influenza_and_Severe_Acute_Respiratory_Syndrome.pdf

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Apr 30, 2009

This may sound selfish, but I'd be afraid my license may be at risk if I was floated to another area..I wouldn't have a problem if it's doing triage stuff , interviews though. But, like I said, I really can't see my OR shutting down. Just the emergencies and traumas alone will keep us going.

indigo girl · Apr 30, 2009

You know, I worry about that too, and I work in psych.