Some questions for OR nurses here...

[alohanars18]

Hi there everyone. Please help me answer some of these questions. I took an exam today for OR position, I meet some of these OR questions. And I wasnt sure of my answers. I didnt know where to get the answer, or if someone can post the link or reccomend some books. Any help will be greatly appreciated. :-)

1. What scalpel no. is used to hold blade 20?

2. Why OR floor is non porous?

3. From Lithotomy position why do you need to put the legs slowly?

4. Who can assume circulator position other than RN?

5. Dissecting scissors? Description? sharp blades or not, pointed or blunt ends? curved or straight?

6. What is the OR temperature standard?

7. How to open the sterile pack on the mayo table for scrub nurse?

8. Jack blade position is used for what procedure?

9. What are the stuff to be count before wound closure other than needles, sponges, cautery tips?

10. In exlap procedure what type of gas is infused in the abdominal cavity?... Oxygen, carbon Dioxide, Helium, Nitrogen, [not sure of exact questions its some what like that]

That's all I can remember right now but there's more... Thank you so much for the responses. Hopefully I can also work in the operating room like most of you here.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I think I can answer some of your questions, but I need to brush up on some myself.

1. A #20 scalpel blade goes on a #4 handle

2. The OR floor is non-porous so that microbes from body fluids cannot flourish (this is a guess; I am not sure of the formal answer)

3. You must raise and lower the legs slowly in lithotomy for two reasons: one is that anesthetic agents typically dilate the vessels, and lowering legs slowly prevents a hypotensive reaction when the extremeties are refilling. The second reason is to prevent peroneal or saphenous nerve damage.

4. I am pretty sure that nobody but the RN can assume the circulator position

5. Dissecting scissors are usually curved mayos. But it depends on the tissue being dissected-you want to use Metz for delicate tissue and mayos for heavy tissue.

6. i have no idea about temp standards. I think AORN says 72? 74? I have to look this one up myself!

7. This might be a trick question, because if the nurse is already scrubbed in, the mayo should already be in use. But if they are simply asking how would you open a sterile pack, you pop the tape, open the distal side away from you, open the right side, left side then the proximal fold is up and toward you, allowing the drape to fall and keeping in mind to only touch the corners of the folds.

8. The jack-knife position is used for proctological procedures, but I have never in my experience actually seen a surgeon use this position. They usually prefer lithotomy. Has any one else seen this practice?

9. In addition to needles, sponges and cautery tips, you must also count the scratch pad, neuro patties, kittners, umbilical tape, vessel loops, lady partsl packing or throat packing. If the procedure was laparoscopic, you have to count the "fog out" sponge as well. I know I am forgetting something....can't remember what.

10. CO2 is used to inflate the abdominal cavity.

Good luck to you and I hope this helps.

[skyblue1484]

I think question 7 was asking something else. I read it as how do you open an item to give to the tech? In that case the answer would be that you do not open something on the mayo stand in case of contamination. You open on the back table.