mactheknife

Missed the questions? what were they?

So our hospital wants to go green. Any helpful ideas for OR Staff. We need all your advice pleasse

Sounds like you have ended up in a real bad one. I agree with Skipbeat learn what you can and get out. They are a perfect example of what not to become. Remember them as that example.

I agree, move on. There is such a shortage of nurses in the world we don't need to waste our time working in places like that. I wish there was a way to name and shame ORs like that.

JCI have a book "Safety in the Operating Room" It is well worth the money, easy to read with a wealth of useful information. You can order it online through Amason. I can't remember how much it cost and I paid in pounds. Google it.

We have all been there and like ebear I have been in the OR for 26 years. I am now a unit supervisor and still have things to learn. I now work in Saudi with colleagues from all over the world. You have no idea the things that get said in our unit. We just laugh is off and help one another. If that surgeon complained it was probable because he was looking for a reason to speak to your supervisor. I agree with FlyOR he is a twit. Your preceptor should have been more helpful, she is the one who should be embarrased.

We use a kidney dish. My staff were reluctant untill one of the scrubs got stabed and then fainted at the sight of her own blood. Now they all use a kidney dish.

I agree with TakeTwoAsprin however I would keep a detailed report on the unit's practice and send a copy to the recruiter. That way they can warn other persons that they send there.

I would be worried about the electricity aspect and also the possible risk of infection. How do you know the bra is clean? I would definately remove any item of clothing that a patient is wearing in the OR.

What we do in our dept is to fill the plates and screws on the trays after every use before it is sent to the sterilizing department. This makes it easy because you can see at a glance if any thing is missing and record it. I have known persons to remove instruments and stuff before sending the sets to CSSD or even from CSSD. The instruments can easily be sold on the "black market" in some countries. One learns to adapt to where you are working and how to deal with the related problems. As I said the people you work with have a much higher sence of ethics and morals.

Yes, every time I open a set. In some instances I will count only before cutting skin and just before closing but I count in every case. You work in a country with educated doctors. I don't, so I have to cover my a**s at all times.

I agree with all of the above. Seriously look into the gloves. That is where I found the solution to my problem. I now only wear "Biogel" gloves and have no problems. Involve your Infection Control Department. Often they can give you valuable back up and know of many alternative products.

Yes, yes, yes. I always count even during minor cases, but especially during Abdominal surgery. It goes to maintaining good habits and being able to know with conviction that nothing from my side has been neglected. It leaves me with no self doubt and peace of mind.

I went through a patch like this, working 2 posts, 2 small children, demanding unemploeyed spouse. Well I started using public transport to work and back. This time on the train was for me. I read a book or just took time out to meditate on good writtings and listen to inspirational music. Hope this helps. If you don't find a way no one will do it for you or thank you for your sacrifice.

I would think because the said offenders are not from western civilization

I had a head nurse who is like that at a previous hospital where I worked. He returned from vacation and gave us each a key ring. I use that keyring every day as a memento about what I must NOT do to my staff now that I am a head nurse. People like that are great examples of what we don't want to be. Don't be affraid to contact her and thank her for being the perfect BAD example. People like that need to know.

The Infection Control Linc Nurses in our unit draw up a monthly schedule and every one gets a day when they have to clean the refrigerator. It gets done dayly so grime never builds up. If some one does not take his/her turn they are given a whole week to clean as their punishment and their name and omission gets mentioned in the monthly unit meeting which is minuted and copied to Nursind Office where the offence is recorded on their file. It has so far never happened as they are all to affraid of the embarasement. Having said that the tea room is for nursing staff, house keeping and general assistants only.

As far as I am concerned it is an insult to any RN to be called doctor. I find myself continually having to correct certain doctors on their surgical technique, their surgical scrub is inefective and boy do they get offened when you try to correct them. Many of them, especially anesthesia practitioners think the do not need to wear a mask in the OR . My list could go on into infinity so even when I obtain my doctorate I will refused to be called by that title.

Have any of you ever had an anesthetist insist that he does not need to give you a written order to give a patient medication if he is in the department with you? This incident has happened three times in our PACU, post surgery. This one claims that if he is present a verbal order is all that is needed. He is willing to sign next to our signature in the nursing notes where we record giving the medication, dose and route! Where can I find it in writting that all docters orders must be written on a docters order sheet and signed by the prescribing docter? We really need all the help we can get.

Have any of you ever had an anesthetist insist that he does not need to give you a written order to give a patient medication if he is in the department with you? This one claims that if he is present a verbal order is all that is needed. He is willing to sign next to our signature where we record givving the medication and dose and route! Where can I find it in wirtting that all docters orders must be wirren on a docters order sheet and signed by the prescribing docter? We really need all the help we can get.

OR is very different from any other aspect of nursing. If you have stuck it out for a year you should hang in there. Some days are good and some days are not. Think about your patients. They need you to be there to take care of them because they can't. In OR our patients are probably at their most vulnerable and we need to be there to be their advocates, to protect them when they can't protect themselves. Take time to look at your roll and the service you provide to your patients. Then go back into OR and make it your mission to be the best scrub and circulator in that department.

I have been in OR for 23 years and at first it is stressful in that you are almost learning a new culture, how ever no oter discipline in nursing has as much team work as the OR. that is if you work with truely dedicated OR personel. My advice is give it a try but don't make a decision as to wether you want to stay for at least 6-8 months.I agree with Mamacheese, she has described Or in a nutshell.Take the plunge and give it a go.

I am an OR Supervisor and I have a Educational Coordinator and an Educator. The coordinator ensures that the inservice the staff attend is correctly recorded and books lectures from outside people like company reps. She works in Recovery Room and does her fair share of work.The educator arranges inservice training which is done either by him or one of the staff. We have one in-service a week. He scrubs when needed and makes sure everybody gets a break every day. It is in his job description. Basically they do this because I told them that this is what I expect of them. Perhaps it is your OR Supervisor that needs to catch a wake up. Is she even aware of this, and does she spend time in her unit.

In my unit, OR, I have 6 male nurses. Two Saudi, one Indian and, two Egyptions. They are all hard working enthusiastic and eiger to advance themselves. They gladly share their knowledge and help the younger, less expierienced staff. I also have 3 Saudi female trainees. They work as hard as the rest of us and put in their share of overtime. They are eiger and enthusiastic about the education program and research their own topics for their turn at teaching. Please remember that there are lazy nurses from all nationalites.

I Have Been An Or Nurse For The Past 23 Years. Not A Day Goes By That I Don't Learn Something Or Teach Some One Some Thing. I Have Made It Part Of My Daily Work To Get To Speak To Each Of My Patients Before They Go Into The Or And Always Hold The Hand Of My Female Patients While They Are Being Anaesthetized. Basically It All Comes Down To Your Personal Attitude To Your Work.