Staffing in Total Joint Cases

for 99% of our total joint cases we have 1 circ, 1 scrub, 1 attending, and typically 2-3 surgical residents. there's almost always a rep from the implant company, and an x-ray tech. oh, and we have a pct available for positioning assistance, etc. i work in a non-urban academic level i trauma center. why do you ask?

Depending on the joint getting replaced:

1 circulator

2-3 scrubs

1 surgeon

1-2 anesthesiologists (depends on the intubation difficulty)

1 rep from Depuy or Zimmer

No PCA, since all the surgeons are anal about "unnecessary people in the room"

A circulator and a scrub. Sometimes we use what we call a Ortho Tech to help or sometimes another scrub nurse. Always has been a problem. I have done them with me and just the surgeon, go figure!

Hi Grimmy,

I was asking because I did not do total joints where I worked before & the number performed here is increasing - the need is for 2-3 scrubs depending on whether a surgeon assist is available and I need to be sure our staffing plan supports that.

Thanks for your response!

mags

I work in a community hospital and typically we have 2 ortho surgeons, a scrub tech, an extra scrub to "hold the leg", a circulator, an anesthetist, and a sales rep. And in our facility techs are not allowed to break scrub at all during the case. Which is frustrating because our ortho guys are ALWAYS late from office and we are working way past our shift. But that is a whole new thread!

1 scrub, 1 circulator, 1 orthopod, ? Rep if available

1- orthopod

1- PA or SA

1- circulator

2- scrubs (one holds retractors)

One Orhopod, one assistant, one scrub and one circulator. If you're lucky, a second circulator will help gather equipment and help you set up the room in the morning, but don't always count on it!

I work in a small rural community hospital.

For totals:

1 anes doc

1 circulator

2 scrub techs

One ortho doc works alone so that adds work for the techs, the other doc has one of his office nurses, who is a trained ortho/scrub.

There will also be a rep. from the company that we are using, usually Zimmer or Depuy.

Occasionally, we have a student nurse or student physical therapy person observing.

The general rule, once in the room, you stay. Especially for the scubs techs.

Mike

I forgot to add, absolutely no students are allowed to observe in the room. They can watch from the window, but they can't see from there really.

District (community) hospital

1 circulator RN

1 scrub RN

1 ortho

1 physician (assisting)

1 anesthetist

* Sometimes residents observing or assisting; student nurse(s) only one and sometime none considering the ortho. mood.

Hope this helps.

Sarah