My first contamination (I feel bad) LONG

[Tiffany, RN, BSN]

So I'm a "green" nurse and I've been in the OR for about 3 weeks and I had my first contamination today . I feel so bad!

So this is how it went:

Our OR staffs 2 nurses and 2 techs to each room so before each case 1 nurse usually stays and helps the techs open up while the other goes to get the patient. I went to get the patient while the other nurse in the room stayed to help open up. When I got back, there were a couple things that still needed opening so after helping the CRNA get the patient situated, I went over to help them finish. I passed the tech 2-3 things and all was well (or so I thought) and anesthesia proceeded to put the patient to sleep. As soon as the patient was asleep the other nurse (who was out of the room when i opened it) comes in and says "did you hand him that hemovac?" and i said "yes" and she says "it was contaminated." So at that point, my mouth hit the ground because the drain was already on top of the instruments, therefore everything on the table was considered contaminated! :cry:Come to find out, when she opened the hemovac, she said the package didn't feel right so rather than take the risk, she considered it contaminated. And since it was there on the table with other things that needed to be opened, I came and opened it and handed it to the tech. So we had to set the whole case up all over again (a process which took about 30 minutes ). I feel so bad for not checking the wrapper good enough but I'm about 99% sure that the wrapper was closed. Our X-Ray person likes to help us out a lot and I think that she may have replaced the contaminated hemovac before going to another room. In that case, it may not have been contaminated but rather than take the risk we just set it up again. Everybody was really nice (even the neurosurgeon) but I still feel like an idiot.

What do you all think? How did you feel the first time you contaminated something?

[Fun2, BSN, RN]

I think it's 'a lesson learned'. We are 'green', and expected to not know everything. Don't feel terrible about it.

Of course you'll feel bad, so would I, but really....a "CONTAMINATED" item should NOT have been put where it would have been opened, and placed on the field.

I just finished my 4th week, so I know how it is. One day at a time....learn from our mistakes...that's all we can do.

Best of luck. :)

[StarlightRN]

I'm new to the OR too. Just 5 weeks in, and I know how you must feel. Although it really wasn't entirely your faught. If the other nurse thought it was contaminated she never should have put it where there was a possibility of being opened. We do learn by our mistakes though, so just take this as a lesson learned. I have comtaminated small things, such as touching a techs finger handing her something, and she only had to change her gloves, and I felt bad about that as simple as it was. I felt like an idiot. But we are new and everything is a learning process and just take one day at a time.

Wishing you the best of Luck in the OR.

[DNRme]

I is your first, but probably not your last. You should feel bad, because our surgical conscience makes us. No one is any worse for the wear, though. You did the right thing. I think the person who left a potentially contaminated item there is more of at fault.

A couple of years ago, after about 20 years in the OR, I did something unbelievably dumb. My scrub was driving me crazy asking for things not yet needed, I was in charge, no secretary, so the phone was driving me crazy. Anesthesia was bugging me to rush the patient to the room. The scrub asked for more gloves (she already had enough to start) and so I put them on her back table.....unopened!!!!! Of course that's when they bring the patient to the room. We looked at one another, laughed and fixed it. No harm, no foul.

[IsseyM]

Aww, we have ALL contaminated more than once. Its a lesson learned and we're not perfect. The first few times i contaminated someone or something i was scared to death of getting yelled at. Used to stress me out so bad, not anymore. I do have to add that is nice that your OR staffs 2 nurses and 2 scrubs in a room! That is awesome! I wish i could have another nurse in the room with me in certain cases.

[justjenny]

Just the other day, While circulating a total knee, the PA on the case looked at how much saline was left in the lavage bag and without thinking reached out and touched it! I called her on it and she changed her gloves - no harm done. Later, she said she was so embarrassed and wasn't even thinking when she did that. It happens to the best of us!

:)

Jenny