It ticks me off more than anything when the schedule is light, and there are people running around busting their *** to set up and clean up cases, and there's 4 or 5 people sitting on their butts outside doing NOTHING but looking through the latest Mary Kay book.
There was 2 other rooms who had the same problem we did, there was only a scrub and a circulator in the room to get stuff set up and cleaned up before and after every case. And typically this happens a lot if we're really busy, but like i said, when there's people sitting around with nothing to do.....
Common sense says go out and ask for help. I loved the response i got so much the ONE time i asked for help, that i didn't ask again. A nice little eye roll and a big sigh, not to mention glances and a grin at the other people standing there. I couldn't tell specifically what that reaction was stemming from, the fact that i asked, or the fact that i've been there since June and i'm a newbie asking for help. Yep, she actually had to put down her coffee and USA Today and DO SOMETHING for 10 minutes (by the way, she wasn't assigned anywhere, and she wasn't in the breakroom either. And this was at 0730, been at work an HOUR, and was kicked back with the paper and coffee).
Thing of it is, i can only open so much before i scrub and set up a table and tray, but some of that stuff (like DuraPrep) you can't open before you scrub, because there's no way to keep the package from falling over (gloves are another thing that's like that).
And the circulator CAN open some of that stuff, but if it's a case that has a lot of stuff to open, he or she can only open so much, because she has to interview, hang the antibiotic, etc. But like i said, when you got people sitting around with nothing to do, one of THEM can open stuff, while the circulator does the stuff she needs to do (like moving the bed, although i help with that beforehand as much as possible because it's heavy, and one person can get hurt doing that).
We shouldn't have to ASK for help. I've had days where we're done by noon, and we have the choice of going home early, or staying. I go to the coordinator and ask what's going on. Or i'll take a peek in the room windows, and see what's going on. If i see people opening packages, etc. I grab a mask and go in and ask if they want any help with anything. I've NEVER been turned down! This is because the nurse can NOW go out and take care of the interviewing, check and see if both doctors have talked to the pt., go pee, etc. Anyone who's been trained on how to open sterile packages CAN open them, and not only that, practice makes perfect.
And i am going to mention this at the Director's 'Open/Close Door Monday". This is where the Director takes a whole day, leaves her office door open, STAYS in the office, an employee comes in, shuts the door, and talks about whatever. Kind of like a verbal suggestion card.
