Prepping a radical mastectomy

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Specializes in Geriatrics, DD, Peri-op.

Do you prep the whole arm on the side of the mastectomy?

Just curious. I'm a new employee on a periop floor and this morning, I put armbands on the same side as the mastectomy so I could put an IV in the other arm. I asked another nurse if the whole arm was scrubbed...she thought it wasn't.

Long story short, a call was made by the doc fussing about me putting armbands on the same side. He was supposed to have come up to the floor and b**** me out personally...but, he didn't. I was going to ask him if he had nothing better to do...if he did. :lol2:

Thinking about it now...(and also for the future), I should have put the armbands on the opposite side. Oh well. You live and learn. ;)

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

We prep to the elbow if the surgeon asks for it. Armband and IV go on opposite arm.

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Specializes in Theatre.

Not a major issue. We put the armband on the opposite arm or on an ankle if the surgeon doesn't want it on the same arm.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, DD, Peri-op.

I will make sure not to make that same "mistake" twice. But, the way he acted...you would have thought I made a med error or put the IV in the wrong arm. He's just like that apparently.

Physicians...sheesh. ;)

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