ewattsjt

sounds like prone to me too. even if the pt is positioned correctly but the case is a real long one like multilevel spine surgery, the duration of being prone for so long can do that.

I have no suggestions. Ours is about the same, when it gets nasty enough someone will go through it. I typically do not use ours because it is always so nasty. I bring a large lunch box and leave it sit in the break room. A couple of us do that. Ou...

It simply takes practice. I am right handed but pass with either hand depending on where I am standing and the where the doctor/assistant is standing. In fact on many occasion, I will be taking one instrument back with one hand while passing to the s...

We just underwent changes this past fall. My facility had a group of analysis’s come in and audit us to make sure we were within The Joint Commission’s guidelines. A couple of changes that were made were that all our liquids IV or pour are now locked...

We do for cases expected to be close to 4 hrs or over. Also on certain procedures we do an in/out to reduce the size of the bladder. We do not do Foley as a routine because of the possibility of UTI.

eent is simply eyes, ears, nose, and throat. it is hard to say with certainty but there should be a lot of different things like for eyes; phacoemulsification and other types of iol replacements as well as retinal banding to blepharoplasty. ears; my...

My facility has 8, 10, and 12 hour shifts. 8 and 10 are typically day and 12 is typically second shift (lunch relief then finish any running rooms). Our rooms are staggered in shutdown times.

i think it is both not trusting patients, old habits, and lump everyone into one group so nothing gets confused. standard order for my facility is npo after midnight but in cases where the patient does ingest food, they fall back to six hours. i have...

I would like to start by saying that many facilities have varying takes on flashing. The AORN recommends against flashing unless there is a real need to flash something. Before the patient is in the room the case can be delayed without much consequen...

My facility is great and rarely sends pts. with jewelry or undies. If they do, there is a good reason.

As Linda stated, ask your facility. A part of the RNFA is getting an agreement (MOA) between the school and your facility to do an externship there. Most facilities who allow it will also allow you to get the cases while working. That is not a given ...

A gown left tied can lead to pressure sores from impeded circulation just as and unpadded boney prominence so regardless of positioning, the gown should be untied and pulled from underneath because of possible bunching. Typically this is best accommo...

Just playing devil’s advocate---what constitutes a stable patient after surgery. We all know and have seen patients crash in the blink of an eye. How defendable can the tech be if their patient crashes while they were on an unrelieved break? How defe...

At my facility it is a big deal. The scrub is supposed to assist in the transfer of the patient. The patient always is the first priority.

Also if you are thinking of going further with your education and possibly into different areas. The general nursing degree is better for that ASN/ADN or BSN while the surg tech programs are diploma and associate. The advancement opportunities are li...

It should be disposable or reusable following the manufacturer’s directions as well as facility policies. Also it should be reported to the proper chain of command and followed up. I am sure that infection control or whatever your equivalence is woul...

I have no idea of what the incidence difference between the two departments are. I can say that in at my facility in the OR there is a lot of moving patients, positioning for the procedure (lifting legs into stirrups, rolling the patient laterally or...

I don’t think techs should be licensed to give them more clout or bigger paychecks. They should be licensed to hold them to a high standard that is enforceable and regulated for the safety of the patients. Right now a tech can screw up in one state a...

As coreO stated, the Surgical Assistant and Surgical First Assistant are the same term. It is the position in the field. Surgeons, NPs, PAs, RNs, CSTs and LPN/LVN can all perform this role. There are some states that have regulation on the practice o...

My facility uses surgical technologists to scrub and assist. Only when there is a staffing issue does an RN get to scrub except for a CRNFA who assists.

In my area, the word of a CST is carried with the same weight. I guess it goes to different ideas of the level of professionalisms and education standards in different areas of the country. In my area the RNs are mostly associate and the majority of ...

This reply is only for the USA as laws and guidelines in other countries vary. With the exception of a few states, during a wrong count the ST or CST is held just a liable as the RN. While there are some states with law with regard to the practice of...

I have to agree that some docs want the same staff because in their minds, the room runs smoother. Because self-fulfilling prophecies will make or break the surgeon; they should get their room. BUT---When it is the room staff that is dong the “my roo...

hate that line and would love using that response just once!!!

No offensive taken with me. I only make $2 hr on call too. It doesn’t pay for my gas there and back, let alone meals. We are a small facility so if we do not have any cases (which sometimes happen), it is only the $2 per hour. So I actually sometimes...