Prepping patient...need help...

mp2005 · May 25, 2008

I'm interested too! I just got hired as an RN at a plastic surgery office. I'll be the pre-op and post-op nurse,so any tips? I'm fairly out of school and would like some advice.

OK...does anyone have any websites with videos of patient preps? I would just like to watch a few and get a better technique going. Prepping is just my weak spot and I want to get better. Leg, arm, hip? Anything? Thanks!

ShariDCST · May 25, 2008

i'm interested too! i just got hired as an rn at a plastic surgery office. i'll be the pre-op and post-op nurse,so any tips? i'm fairly out of school and would like some advice.

ok - i think the first thing needed is to clarify just exactly which kind of "prepping" is being referred to here. the first poster is looking for information regarding skin preps in surgery, if i am reading the question correctly. this procedure is done just prior to draping the patient for the procedure. this would not include involvement of pre- and post-op nurses, other than general background information, as they do not play a part in this particular part of the operation. even skin shaving/clipping is now done immediately prior to the prep in the or.

the first place i would start is with clinical education for surgery in your facility. see if they have any references there in video, dvd, or textbook format for your reference. there may also be procedure manuals that have been developed to cover what is done in their particular ors for their cases with their surgeons. while most prep basics stay the same from place to place - as in where to start and what to either leave until last, or not do at all - there are facility-specific items of information that you would need to know. this would include what particular solutions and application methods are used, such as duraprep or cloraprep disposable applicators, betadine scrub/paint in either disposable kits or in reusable small pan sets with sponges that may be processed in-house, hibiclens, alcohol, and so on. there are also physician-specific preferences that need to be included, such as orthopods who do alcohol-only preps, and some of them do their own prep before the procedure, or even after they are gowned and gloved and the patient is draped. i've seen a lot of different combinations of those things over time, and every place, and almost every doctor does what they consider best.

the website www.ast.org has a vast section of or education resources available in textbook, dvd and some vhs format selections, covering all aspects of sterile technique, scrubbing, and patient care and preparation, pre and post op case management, and so on. if you go to the website, select educators in the menu to the left, and the select learning products, and then the format you wish to investigate.

for instance, under dvd, there is a long list of items available for purchase, including one specifically covering surgical positioning, prepping and draping. this is not an inexpensive item, being $175 for either members or nonmembers, but your facility, through its clinical education department may be able to make the purchase and use it as part of their or nurse education program.

if you want to do it yourself, you could potentially write it off on your taxes as a work expense, covering continuing education. but i'd go through the facility first, and see if you can get them to do it.

if you have a cst program locally, you might contact them or one of their students who does clinicals in your facility, if you work where they do that, and see if you can access some of their resources, because this information is all taught in their programs. i've had nurses ask me before for specific items of information from when i was in school, and i was happy to provide it. if your facility offers clinical experiences for cst students, try the clinical preceptors or the program educators and see if they have something you can see or use.

i do not know what aorn has to offer specifically, since i don't have access into their website, but i'm sure they have something to offer as well. any nurses on here who know more about that would probably be able to provide you with guidance in that area.

hope this helps you find what you're looking for! good luck. :up: