Plastic surgery

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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?

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Your employer needs to ensure proper training/orientation to the OR.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

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?

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

That is frightening. So you scrubbed a woman for a breast augmentation, but you don't know if you did it correctly?

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

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?

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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.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
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

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

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. :cautious:

You also could have asked...I'm also curious, why are you including tacking sutures.

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Yes I am an RN and I'm sure it's not rocket science. Thank you for your response.

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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.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
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.

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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.

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