setting up the case

[tiny1]

When do you set up a case regarding the surgery schedule? Do you stay in the room after you set it up or do you leave and assist where needed until the patient is ready for surgery?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Each of our rooms is staffed with 1 RN and 2 STs. Typically with first start of the day, the STs will set up while the RN is checking in the patient. Per policy, the setup cannot be left unattended, although the ST may break and monitor the field while not sterile. If the case is delayed for any reason (labs not complete, T&C comes up with antibodies and blood won't be readily available, etc), if 2 hours pass, the setup must be replaced.

As for later cases, mostly it is one doc in the room the whole day, so we just turn over and set up for the next. For docs who come in later than first start, we wait to hear that they have arrived. The majority of our STs can set up for most cases between learning the doc arrived and the patient hits the room.

[Scrubby]

We start setting up before the patient comes into the room. Because we have no anaesthetic room the patient goes off to sleep listening to us opening items, trays and counting. Appalling I know but there really is no other way.

[OR male nurse]

When do you set up a case regarding the surgery schedule? Do you stay in the room after you set it up or do you leave and assist where needed until the patient is ready for surgery?

The RN and the ST set up the case and open the supplies. The RN leaves the room to go and get the patient and the ST goes and sits in the break room and drinks a cup of coffee. The ST peeks out tof he break room and when the RN comes down the hallway with the patient, they go and scrub in and bug the RN to get all of the supplies that they feel that they need.