lindaloo51

In the late 60's, early 70's, I worked with a tech who lived about 15 miles from the hospital. That translated to about 20 minutes to the hospital. If it was a trauma or C-section, she would tie a white bra to her antenna and fly to the hospital. ...

We are still using Steris. The FDA letter states that facilities may continue to use the Steris units while evaluating their needs. There are NO reports of patient injuries or infections with the use of the Steris unit. Read the information and th...

We did use the Stryker pump until it was recalled. We didn't use them with articular surfaces because I think that the Marcaine destroys the joint surface. We only used them on total joints. It seems to me that there were a lot of law suits becaus...

We are a small OR 6 rooms, cysto and endolab. We do 20 - 30 cases a day. We work very closely with our CPD. We have 2 -3 contact people in the OR that CPD contacts about broken or missing instruments or any other issues. (As soon as an instument i...

I think that seeing is believing. Talk with the OR Director and ask to job shadow for a day or two in the OR. We welcome students who are truly interested in OR as a career path. I have spoken with many students and they get the best picture of wh...

If you go to the Ethicon web site, they have charts that explain their sutures, needles, what they are used for and how long they stay. I haven't checked out the other manufacture sites, but I would guess that they have something similar. I have pr...

First of all, different suture companies use different names for their needles. A CT needle in Ethicon suture is a general closure taper needle. In Autosuture, the same needle is a GS21. Here is a link to Ethicon's page there is a huge amount of ...

WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING????? You don't think that if your patient goes down the tube while your anesthesia provider is MIA and you have done nothing about it that a lawyer isn't going to rip you to shreds?? In 40 years I have had 1 provider th...

We use sterile water. Reasoning was that there are studies out there that show pseudomonas in tap water. Also, Sterile water is also distilled and this prevents mineral build up in the scope channels.

Follow your facilities P&P. I have been in this situation and it isn't pleasant. You must be objective and clear in your concerns. Put it in writing either to your supervisor or through your risk management procedure. We had a surgeon that wa...

It seems we all have the same problems. We have tried a lot of different things. (long rollers, short rollers, slide boards, plastic bags with a towel) The very best that we have found is something called air pals. It is an inflatable moving devi...

We have found that some mfg. do have different outdates. It may be related to the shelf life of the product not the sterility. Catheters are one example, they become brittle after time. Another example is silicone ear tubes. Our mfg only covers 1...

One of my coworkers is allergic to the prepared scrub brushes. They use coconut oil in many of them I think as emolients. She has to use a prepackaged dry scrub brush with regular hibiclens or betadine because they don't have the emolients added. ...

Well, I've been there on both sides of this type of situation. How are they being disrespectful? I've had new charge nurses who didn't have a whole lot of experience and in my younger days before I learned to consider my words I know that I probabl...

During day shift, the charge nurse calls the ER and gets the info on what the trauma is, a room and staff would then be designated if needed.

Question for you, who makes the tray liners?? I have been looking for them in my very limited spare time at work, but haven't found them.

We have the same problem. Our rep told us that someone puts out theBupivicaine in a larger size. Still waiting on the information. If I learn anything, I'll let you know. It's cut down on the pain pumps at our facility since our docs no longer us...

Our anesthesia staff has standing orders that are checked off and they must sign. Verbal orders are written by the nurse and must be signed by the MD or as you say it will come back to haunt them as an unsigned chart.

We follow the NPO after midnoc. Allowable is a sip of water with essential meds in am. For more urgent cases we go with 6 hours NPO. Emergent cases get a "crash" induction. When I had surgery a couple of years ago, it was scheduled for 2pm and I ...

Our hospital has recently revamped its catheter policies. We are not to preinflate the balloon per mfg policy. Also, we now pre-clense the genitals with either an antibacterial soap and water or the pre moistened bath wipes. Then we proceed with n...

Don't forget about the "knife and gun clubs" as we call them. A number of years ago, the circulator picked up the pants that had been cut off of a patient and a loaded pistol fell out on the floor.

Our educator is also a regular staff nurse as well as being the person in charge of new staff orientation and continuing education for current staff. We are a small hospital (99 beds) and we do about 30 procedures a day. No neuro or open heart. S...

We have one educator who is also a regular circulator. She precepts in the rooms. There are also several of us who are regular preceptors. (No extra pay for any of us). Our educator does get 1 or 2 days a month as education days when she can plan...

My grandson is allergic to Pine tree pollen. He develops a rash and his eyes swell. He gets really congested. So what do we have by our front door? Three huge pine trees. Luckily, they only pollinate every other year. While they are doing thei...

I have had foot and ankle pain for years. After nearly 40 years in the OR, I have found my answer. At a big outdoor show recently, I passed by a vendor selling of all things, insoles for shoes. I really didn't believe all of the claims they were ...