Patients Not Ready to Move??

[ClinOps]

I'm getting frustrated with having to track down where my next patient is and confirming that they are ready to advance from preop to the OR. How do you track whether or not a patient is ready to advance from preop at your facility? Any tips?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Epic has options where patients can have times put into the periop record that indicate when tasks are completed. They are also color coded on the schedule- one color means the patient has arrived in preop, another means the patient has been seen by the surgeon, another means everything is in order and the patient is ready to move.

However, you can never go wrong with keeping in touch with preop- calling and asking them to transfer the patient from the nursing unit to the preop area, letting them know if you're ahead of schedule or behind. It's amazing what just a little bit of communication can do.

[DanielOR_RN]

In my facility we have to call pre-op and send for the next patient.

[Mr. & Mrs. RN]

I'm not really sure how your facility runs things, but I just walk into preop and talk to the nurse.

[CAnewgrad2016, BSN, RN]

@Rose-Queen the facility I will be working in uses Epic as well. Do you have any tips for OR nurses using epic?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

@Rose-Queen the facility I will be working in uses Epic as well. Do you have any tips for OR nurses using epic?

Not really, because each facility's documentation policies are going to be specific to them. Just remember that the patient is not the box of electronic bits and pieces- take care of the person on the OR table before you worry about the computer bit. Your preceptor at your job should be able to guide you through the documentation sections, and of course the facility is going to provide orientation to it before you can begin the documentation portion of circulating.