Switching caps between each case?

[ChristineAdrianaRN, BSN, RN]

Because I think of such important things...

Do you have to switch out your cap for each new case? I'm looking at the cute hats out on the 'net...seems like there wouldn't be a market for them if you had to wear a new one for each case, but I can't remember if I was taught that we need to switch them or not.

Of course I'll ask my manager, but I'm eager and wanna know now. =D

[Mr. & Mrs. RN]

I think AORN recommends a max of 8 hours, or no more than one day at work.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I don't ever switch mine out unless we had a big old bloody case with squirting or flying blood. Burn cases usually require a dermabrader to be used, so I will change all of my attire, especially if I am scrubbed in.

[SnowStar4]

We wear ours all day, unless something nasty gets on it of course.

[shodobe]

I wear different cloth hats during the week and will wear the disposables over it when I scrub. Other than that you should change out each day and in my opinion if by chance you do get some fluids on it it, throw it away! Don't take it home and try to wash it out. Home washers do not get hot enough and with the cloth hats being so cheap it is easier to throw away than to take a chance on taking something home.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

The only time we are supposed to change hats is if we get something on it or it was an isolation patient.

[Devon Rex, ADN, BSN]

OR Nurses don't need to change scrubs, so I can't think of any reason (other than a bloody mess of a case) to change your cap. I've seen them wear the same cap all day... so I think you'd be safe. However, always check with the boss... they might have a rule against it.

[CaliLvr000, BSN, RN]

Our new hospital policy is that a fabric scrub cap from home must be covered completely with a disposable bouffant. They say they don't know if it was laundered to the appropriate temp/frequency.

[Devon Rex, ADN, BSN]

It makes sense. When I volunteered at the local surgery center, they would not let me wear scrubs from home for the same reason... so I wore theirs.

The bigger OR at the hospital also provided me with scrubs, but the nurses didn't change their caps. I guess it's a policy/procedure preference by the management team.