Role of Nurse During Circumcision

Altalorraine · Nov 15, 2005

Hi everyone,
I am currently an LPN student. I have to do a presentation on the role of the nurse during a circumcision. I have looked in all my books and all I find is the nurses role in care of the circumcision. All I find on the internet is contoversial topics about circumcision. I need to know how the nurse assists the doctor and what he/she does during the actual circumcision. I figured the best answer would come from someone here. Can anyone help me out??
Thank you
:)

Where I work the nurses assess the infant, including vital signs, draw up the medication for the dorsal block, assist with strapping the infant down, set up and maintain the sterile field for the physician, and offer comfort measures such as touch and sugar on the finger for the infant to suck during and after the procedure.

Altalorraine

allnurses Guide · Nov 15, 2005

Depends on the doc . . .. . :rolleyes:

We have one who uses this time to do an assessment of the infant. He will also place the child on the board and apply restraints, put out his own instruments, draw up his own lidocaine, etc. He also cleans up after deliveries so the nurse can take care of the mom and babe. In this case with this doc, I have the key to the cabinet that has the stuff needed for bleeding. We don't use sugar - maybe a pacifier.

The other two docs have you place the baby on the board and in restraints but sets up their own instruments and draws up their own lidocaine.

The last doc has you do just about everything except the circ.

steph

dac71 · Nov 15, 2005

Thanks for the quick responses. You've been most helpful. Next time I have a question, I will just come here first. :)

thanks again!

Jolie, BSN · Nov 15, 2005

I would add that the nurse is responsible for checking to see that a signed consent is in the chart.

KMKRN · Nov 15, 2005

I also check the baby's band with the signed consent.

allnurses Guide · Nov 18, 2005

I would add that the nurse is responsible for checking to see that a signed consent is in the chart.

Yikes - I forgot about that!

steph:)

allnurses Guide · Nov 18, 2005

I also check the baby's band with the signed consent.

Having only one baby (usually) at a time sorta makes that a non-issue where I work. :)

steph

angelladyclaire · Nov 19, 2005

I do not work in newborn nursery, but I did watch a couple of circumcisions in my OB clinicals. At my hospital they had a nurse assistant help the doc with the circumcision. She strapped the babe to the board and did the calming while the doc drew up his own meds and got out his own equipment. The nurse was then responsible for the aftercare.

indigo · Nov 20, 2005

During circumcision, you are number one the patient's advocate. The poor little guy has no choice but to submit to this barbaric mutilation. Get an order for EMLA cream and get it on a good hour before the doctor arrives. Try to comfort the patient as best you can while it is being done, let him suck your gloved finger, wrap him and hold him close when it is finally all over with. It is my wish that no one would EVER do this to their newborn son. Be sure to provide the family with information from the American Academy of Pediatrics before they sign the consent.

Jerico, BSN, RN · Nov 20, 2005

During circumcision, you are number one the patient's advocate. The poor little guy has no choice but to submit to this barbaric mutilation. Get an order for EMLA cream and get it on a good hour before the doctor arrives. Try to comfort the patient as best you can while it is being done, let him suck your gloved finger, wrap him and hold him close when it is finally all over with. It is my wish that no one would EVER do this to their newborn son. Be sure to provide the family with information from the American Academy of Pediatrics before they sign the consent.

Ever seen how MANY 2 to 4 year old uncirc boys come in for circ at 2 - 4?

Not all parents KNOW or CARE to make sure the child is cleaned correctly from the get-go - HENCE circumcision is not some "barbaric mutilation".

It is necessary and an option many parents need to know the REASON it is done -

WITHOUT personal biases from nurses.:angryfire

Graciegirlienurse · Nov 20, 2005

circumsicion is absolutely not necessary! If it was it would not be considered "cosmetic" surgery, that insurance doesnt even cover. There is not a medical indication for routine circumsicion. Also the american academy of pediatrics and the american medical association do not reccomend routine infant circumcision. Most of the world does not abuse their infants this way.

I personally believe that permanently altering someones body, especially their genital without thier consent, for cosmetic purposes is wrong. If any kid, say 15 or older decides he wants to be circumsized thats fine, its his body. This is why in my hospital I, along with several other nurses have opted out of assisting with circumcisions, if enough nurses refused to participate based on ethical objections, maybe this would stop.

As for care of the uncircumsized member, until the foreskin retracts there is no special care needed, usually by the time it retracts, the kid is old enough to learn how to wash it in the bath, just like he learns to wash the rest of his body. My son, as well as my three brothers are uncircumsized, none of them wish that they had been circumsized, and none of them have ever had any problems.