thebonster

"spit on, pushed, scratched and verbally assaulted" Over the course of my 20 years all of the above plus, punched in the sternum so hard it knocked the wind out of me because I thought the up ad lib, (previous to admission living on his own) man could finish his own face shave. Kicked in the face when I approached a pt lying in bed, bit (with and without dentures in), grabbed by the arm and dragged down the hallway and into a stairwell (while 8 months pregnant), ninja attacked by an old fart with his walking cane swinging it around like a battle sword, NG tube whipped, hair pulled, slapped, pinched - oh the pinching from little old ladies and their nasty fingernails, threatened by pt's and their charming intelligent families, on and on and on. Many oriented x1 or x2 but most of them x3 I couldn't handle ward nursing one more day - so I got out 6 years ago and haven't looked back.

I would really like to know how others manage parents in the operating rooms. What kind of criteria does a parent/child/surgery have that makes it appropriate for the parent to be there and also to not allow a parent in the room? What kind of teaching material is given to parents and kids pre-op? Who teaches and re-enforces the material? What happens when there is a language barrier? What exactly is the parents role once they and the child enter the room? Who leaves the room once the child is sleeping to escort the parent back to holding? My facility is very inconsistent with a parent/caregiver of a child being allowed in the OR for induction. It is pretty much up to the anesthesia in the room to say yes or no, or there are some nurses strongly against it. In our hospital NONE of the kids are premedicated EVER. There is no teaching done during admission to prepare the parent or child what to expect in the OR. So in holding anesthesia goes over the basics and then the circulating nurse has essentially 5 minutes to prepare a parent for everything. We get them dressed in the hat, disposable gown and booties, and then guide them and the child down the hall past all the lovely sights, sounds and smells and into the room. Sometimes a parent will hold the child on thier lap or the child lays on the table for the inhalation induction. (I pray that the excitement phase isn't too "exciting" and freaks out the parent) Then the circulating nurse leaves prior to intubation to escort the parent back to holding. Somedays it works fine and other days....not so much. Looking forward to reponses and getting some ideas to fix our many shortfalls!

I got a call from our "pt care advocate" that I had to apologize to a pt's niece because her Aunt had received gravy on her meatloaf. I thought that it was a practical joke from a co-worker. Nope, it was for real. I informed the advocate that I was not the cook, the pt had selected her own menu choices and that I had 1000 things to think about that were more important than that loonie family member! I had given a request to this same niece that she not stand on a rolling stool to decorate the upper walls with stickers. #1 she could fall and break something and #2 we had just had the ward painted! Dealing with idiots takes up so much of our time!!

I've seen it twice in 17 years. First on the ward a pt getting sicker and septic post op. They CT'd the belly and the resident kept scratching his head - "What is that curled up thing in there" Ummmm.... that is the tag of a lap sponge! I tell you was the attending doc and the OR nurse manager ever up to the ward in a hurry. Copies of the chart were made, they freaked out. The old guy didn't sue - I don't think he even understood it when they explained why he needed to back to the OR. Second time was working in the OR. A 8x4 had been used as a "wick" in a small open wound. It was marked on the count sheet, marked on the pts OR record in BIG BLOCK LETTERS by nursing. The resident didn't write it in his progress notes, didn't pass it on to team. The wound was mucky and so it just blended in. Nursing staff on the floor didn't look at the OR record, just went with the resident notes. A week later they sewed her shut on the ward. 18 months later she comes back with a "wound that wont heal". It was gross. I also had an idiot doc leave a sponge in the belly 2 times inside of a month. Doing a big belly case - told her the count was off she said that it was "The nurses counting that is off" She kept closing and when I said that I was going to say on the incident report that she refused to stop and x-ray she finally relented. Sure enough there it was. Couple weeks later I smartened up and wrote on my table how many sponges were in the belly. I refused to pass any closure until she kept digging around. The resident found it. She as her regular rude self said nothing - so I said in a sweet voice "You are very welcome AGAIN Dr. X for saving you from a law suit":devil: What a great day when she left for "bigger and better". My sympathies whoever is stuck with her these days!

All I carry is a pen. Maybe my little calendar if I need to change a shift. Sometimes if I'm in charge I carry the master key. Scissors are everywhere. The slate is posted on the wall in every room. All numbers that we could ever need to call (except for take-out) are on the wall beside the phone. All staff names and glove sizes are posted in every room. The surgeons pref card is computer generated and comes with the equipment. Tape is everywhere and alcohol swabs are within arms reach of the pt in every room. I hate packing my pockets with supplies. When I was a ward nurse I had bulging pockets because I wanted to save myself steps. In the OR everything I need is handy.

Exact same as us. My biggest beef of our hospital is that children are NEVER premedicated. It is because "The surgery before might go longer than it should or the case could get cancelled" Freaking out is better I guess. I personally don't like it when the parent comes in. 1 in 10 is fine and calm but 90% are a mess. If there were something to mentally prepare them for what they see/smell/hear as they walk down the hall.... The worst mom ever was one that was snapping pictures all the way to the OR suite as her little girl had big tears rolling down. She had big plans to scrapbook to whole thing! She was miffed when we wouldn't let her take pictures in the room!:trout: Poor kid!!

We use plastic sheets at my hospital. I hate rollers!!! Have you ever taken a ride on one? They are very very uncomfortable unless you have some extra adipose tissue! From someone with a bony back - please use a slider!

I've had tons of stupid ones... Quick - turn up my radio I love this song. Just wondering what you were doing. Is it mealtime yet? Where is my Dr.? Just seeing if the call light works. Would you feed my cat at my apartment?

I always asked family to step out for a moment. There was a 17 yr old girl with # c-spine we were putting in halo, her mom and dad were adament that they stay and watch. I was honest and said that this is something that no parent should ever watch, and if their daughter wanted to tell them about it (after her versed) she would. But that I would be with her and assisting the Dr. and we both would treat her as our own family. They went for coffee and when they came back thier daughter told them (when she finished her sleep) that it wasn't bad at all:rolleyes: Some family refused to leave and I would carry on - but not be comfortable with peri-care. Sorry but that is just plain creepy!

Things I have seen myself: A "tire" from an eraser shaped like a hotwheels car (another kid did this when we were in grade 3) taken out by Dr. A chunk of sponge that my then 5yr old found somewhere (I pinched off the unaffected side and he blew it out) Heard of: A single pea that had been up a little boys nose so long it rotted and he refused to eat anything because no matter what it was "It stunk" to him. BIL stuck a vitamin c up his nose - went to the Dr and there was nothing to grab so hubby says that they all just watched the bright orange color melt down for the next day.