I have recently started working for a plastic surgeons office and sometimes need to help out in the OR. I have no OR experience. Mainly they ask me to open something or grab an instrument or sutures. I was asked to scrub a patient for breast aug and tacking and wasn't really sure of the proper technique. Can anyone give me some pointers? 0 Likes
BSNbeauty, BSN, RN Oct 22, 2014 Your employer needs to ensure proper training/orientation to the OR. 0 Likes
JustBeachyNurse, RN Specializes in Complex pediatrics turned LTC/subacute geriatrics. Has 11 years experience. Oct 22, 2014 Were you not given orientation & training? Your employer needs to inservice and educate you on policy. & procedure before having you work in an OR.Did you tell them you don't know? 0 Likes
klone, MSN, RN Specializes in Women's Health/OB Leadership. Has 15 years experience. Oct 22, 2014 That is frightening. So you scrubbed a woman for a breast augmentation, but you don't know if you did it correctly? 0 Likes
dudette10, MSN, RN Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics. Has 10 years experience. Oct 22, 2014 This is an infection waiting to happen. Is the plastic surgeon doing this in a stand alone OR or hospital setting? Are you an RN? 0 Likes
Kgj2563 Oct 22, 2014 I did not scrub the patient because I wasn't comfortable with it. The person that had asked me to was someone I had never worked with and didn't know I have no OR experience. 0 Likes
JustBeachyNurse, RN Specializes in Complex pediatrics turned LTC/subacute geriatrics. Has 11 years experience. Oct 22, 2014 I did not scrub the patient because I wasn't comfortable with it. The person that had asked me to was someone I had never worked with and didn't know I have no OR experience.Are you a registered nurse or a medical assistant? It's not like OR clinical skills are sufficiently covered in nursing school that's what orientation & preceptorship is for 0 Likes
tyvin, BSN, RN Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC. Oct 22, 2014 Are you a licensed RN?Oops; had to edit because I see someone else had the same idea. Seriously, if you're a licensed RN it shouldn't be rocket science. You also could have asked...I'm also curious, why are you including tacking sutures. Edited Oct 22, 2014 by tyvin 0 Likes
Kgj2563 Oct 22, 2014 Yes I am an RN and I'm sure it's not rocket science. Thank you for your response. 0 Likes
Been there,done that, ASN, RN Has 33 years experience. Oct 23, 2014 A professional has the responsibility to inform the employer.... that they do not feel qualified to perform a task. Performing in the OR setting requires specialized skills that you MUST be trained for.I've walked into many situations as a traveler/agency nurse... handled most of them. I would NEVER enter an operating room. This is a patient safety issue that leaves NO room for newbies. 0 Likes
LadyFree28, BSN, RN Specializes in Pediatrics, Rehab, Trauma. Has 10 years experience. Oct 23, 2014 Yes I am an RN and I'm sure it's not rocket science. Thank you for your response.People are asking because you did not indicate in your posts nor did your profile indicate that you were a nurse; I thought it was a genuine questions and not meant for rudeness; our nursing community includes CNAs, MAs, scrub techs, non nurses as well. 0 Likes
Kgj2563 Oct 23, 2014 I've walked into many situations as a traveler/agency nurse... handled most of them. I would NEVER enter an operating room. This is a patient safety issue that leaves NO room for newbies. 0 Likes
Kgj2563 Oct 23, 2014 I work pre/post. I just happened to help out in the OR at times. I would never do anything I wasn't comfortable with. I was just curious if there was a proper technique to scrub. I did ask the people that I work with and I feel everyone does it a little different. I didn't know if there was a certain technique or not. 0 Likes
