My locker in OR has no lock-what to do with my driver's license, credit cards?

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I am a new graduate operating room nurse and new to the OR environment. During my 8-hour shadowing experience in the OR, I noticed no one was using locker locks to secure their personal belongings. Do you have any advice on how I can protect my belongings? Should I leave items like my driver's license and credit card in my car, or keep them in a bag in the locker room?

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3 Answers

Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

Protecting your personal belongings in the operating room (OR) environment is important. The OR is a high-stress, sterile, and secure setting, and while it's not always practical to carry personal items with you, it's essential to have a strategy for keeping your valuables safe.

Here's some advice based on common practices:

Locker Room Lockers
Many hospitals and OR settings provide lockers for staff in the changing area but don't provide locks. It's common to see staff use their own locks for added security. This is an example of a good thing for a manager or educator to tell new nurses during unit orientation.

Definitely don't leave items like your driver's license and credit card in an unsecured locker. However, since you observed a culture of no locks and are unsure about how other staff members manage their belongings, you need to find out what others do.

Every hospital has its own culture (and sub-cultures!), and this is one where it can be best to ask a friendly colleague, supervisor, or educator. "Hi! I'm new here. I've been wondering where to keep my wallet. What do you do with yours?"

  • Other suggestions: Nurses may carry a small backpack on the floors, but this is not feasible in the OR. Some nurses slide credit cards and driver's licenses into their phone cases, although you should not need either at work. You can typically pay for food and even gift shopping with your ID badge.
  • It may be best to leave items such as your wallet in your locked car, perhaps in the glove compartment or other non-visible spot.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

 

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Even if others aren't using locks, most if not all locker handles are set up to accept a lock. You can always pick one up for your locker. I leave my locker unlocked overnight when all that's in there is my shoes, but lock it when I leave my purse in there during the day. 

I strongly recommend a combination lock over a key lock, because you can always trust someone or email your work email with the combo if you forget. If you lose your key to a keyed lock, you're gonna have to cut that lock off. (Source: my OR keeps a bolt cutter in the manager's office for lock removal because maintenance said enough)

Thank you so much

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