Some questions for the women

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

Ok, I apologize in advance if these are stupid questions. First, it was posed on the General thread about wearing make-up. Now I asked about wearing make-up in the OR, and one person said it was ok (but pointless). Just wanted to ask everyone in here....who wears make-up. Now I don't mean lipstick, eyeliner and the such, like you are going to a club. But foundation and/or powder. If you do, what works best? Won't rub off on masks or melt when you get sweaty. Is it a lost cause even trying? Any of you work for hospitals that say you can't wear any because of possible contamination of the sterile field (Like powder flaking off).

And now second question....something that has been bugging me but I have searched the past discussions and haven't seen an answer. Sorry if this is TMI....and for those men reading this, you might want to stop, LOL. But what do you do when you are on your period? What happens if you get stuck in a 4, 6 or 8 hour surgery with no breaks? Mine has always been quite heavy, and the first couple of days I MUST use a restroom to change every two hours. I don't understand how you all do it. Partly I am just curious, but mostly I am very interested in the OR and have doubts about these things. Thanks.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I wear makeup and will try to go for the stuff that's advertised not to rub off. Most of the major brands have something like this and even if you wear the regular stuff, you can always reapply. That's one of the nice things about the OR-most of the time, you get a 15 minute break and a half hour lunch. It's not like the floors where other nurses will bad mouth you if you actually want to have a break.

This leads into the period question..most days, you'll get a break at some point so I use that oppourtunity to take care of my lady business.;) mine can be heavy the first 2 days as well, so I use both a tampon and a pad(now that's TMI!). You should see my locker-I have EVERYTHING in there, it looks like a pharmacy. Feminine hygiene supplies,ibuprofen, pepto bismol, extra deodorant etc etc etc.

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my view is from that of a guy and from my facility only. hope you don't mind my answering.

many of our nurses wear makeup. you will want the kind that doesn't wear off easily as your mask will be rubbing it. if you are scrubbing, you really shouldn't wear makeup, earrings, necklaces, etc...because it may have bacteria to sluff into the wound, but many do. some will say you can wear ear rings only but they must be covered by the bouffant. check your facility policy as it is the only real indicator of what you will do.

as for the period, i really don't know. i do know that in my facility, extra relief is given when a "female problem" exists, you have to speak up. even though there are men there, we are all adults and know that life happens.

most cases here have quick turnovers and you can take care of business while the room is being turned so it shouldn't really be a problem.

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I used to wear makeup in the OR but haven't in a long time. I'm not a morning person so it is kind of hard for me to get up. I get to sleep in an extra 15 minutes if i don't do my makeup. When i do wear makeup, i wear everything but very lightly, so it looks natural. I just tried out Bare Minerals today and it seems fast and easy to apply and it looks natural. Most of the female nurses and techs in my OR do wear makeup.

As for the female issue, we don't always get a 15 minute break but there is someone always available to give you a quick potty break or whatever, my charge nurse is pretty good about that. I keep extra tampons and pads in my locker and like Witchy said, on heavier days i wear both a tampon and pad or panty liner.

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Something to consider is eyelash tinting. It lasts about a month, does not rub off, and looks like a light mascara coat. I also agree that the mineral makeup is long-lasing and comfortable. It usually does not come off with water or sweat. I personally think it sits in my fine lines and makes them look more obvious, though.

I thnink my plan one I am in the OR is just to stick with the eyelash tinting as I do that regularly anyway, lip balm, and maybe some brow powder. I'll look pale, tired and blotchy, but at least I'll be comfortable and clean-feeling. ;)

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Oh, and there is usually one or two days a month I must also double up with a tampon and big pad to get through my commute to/from school or a long class. I sure hope there are breaks for me in the OR on those days!

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Specializes in NICU.

This is cracking me up. I'm not an OR nurse, but the other night I was assigned to our Transitional Nursery - it's a room on the L&D floor where babies who will need the NICU are taken immediately after delivery to be stabilized. You're either totally alone in the room with the kids (so can't leave to go to the bathroom) or there are a hundred people in there while a baby is first brought in (so no time to go to the bathroom). What happens five minutes before my admission comes in? Thaaaaat's right. Thank the lord I was wearing navy scrubs... :uhoh21:

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Hee Hee that reminds me of a couple weeks ago when I was scrubbed in a revision total hip case where I started my period in the first half an hour of the case.... not fun... spent the whole time PRAYING and crossing my legs hee hee... plus I couldn't leave because it was a total case. Thankfully it wasn't that bad and nothing was showin through at the end (lasted about two hours). But the circulator seemed to know what was up and laughed as a ran cross legged out the door.

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Specializes in Med Surg/Ortho.

LOL...those are some interesting stories! Thanks all for the advice. Definitely something to think about. I am a very practical person and like to think things like this through before I am put in the situation.

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Specializes in NICU.
Hee Hee that reminds me of a couple weeks ago when I was scrubbed in a revision total hip case where I started my period in the first half an hour of the case.... not fun... spent the whole time PRAYING and crossing my legs hee hee... plus I couldn't leave because it was a total case. Thankfully it wasn't that bad and nothing was showin through at the end (lasted about two hours). But the circulator seemed to know what was up and laughed as a ran cross legged out the door.

I know, right? I'm glad nobody noticed I was walking funny. I actually grabbed one of the L&D patient gowns and put it on with the opening in the front. Said I was cold. This actually isn't that uncommon for us to do on night shift when the bossman isn't around and there are thermostat-related disagreements, so no one commented.

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Specializes in RN- Med/surg.

I'm not an OR nurse..but had to but in because I'm shocked that more people don't know about a new product. (it's been out a few years now)....

It's called "Instead" and it can be difficult to find...but I have a few places who started ordering them in for me. Google it if you're interested...as I'm not sure if it's allowed to link it here. (Walgreens usually has them)

Instead of a tampon...it's a cup type of thing you insert. It's healthier for you because instead of absorbing blood..and it being open to air...it seals it in. The first few times removing it can be a little messy (sorry guys)....but I got it down quickly and they were a lifesaver during school. I'll never wear a tampon or pad again. They say they hold enough so that you change them half as often as a tampon....but you can wear it up to 12 hours. I used to change my tampon every 2-3 hours, and I only change these every 12. They look spendy at first...but end up about the same or cheaper since you use fewer.

Sorry..didn't mean to write a book...I thought they'd spread like wildfire...but surprisingly they haven't..so I tell everyone about them!

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I actually bought a box of those when they first came out, and I must be really inept because I could not get the darn things to stay in...is there a learning curve? LOL

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