Tips for same day surgery

[Justlikeyou, BSN]

Hey fellow RN's

I just got offered a PRN position for same day surgery. I am super excited to start. I would like some general tips/advice for working in same day surgery. It is within the hospital. I will not be floating to PACU, just pre/post op. Do you like it? If so, what do you like? If no, what don't you like or could improve?

FYI I have been an RN for 3 years. Med Surg.

Thanks so much in advance.

[TREndzetta]

Hi ,

just came across your post. Did you ever take that PRN position in Day surgery?

If so, can you shred some insight on the role? Tasks? Likes/dislikes?

I'm looking to apply to a similar position. Searched and searched on this forum for threads, but couldn't find much.

Thanks!

[brownbook]

Same day surgery...."we" don't even have our own Nursing Specialties section ?.

I know this has been answered by me many times....but I am not good at finding old posts either. Maybe look under OR..or PACU...or Ambulatory Care/Clinic...but none of those are only for same day surgery.

Some same day surgeries can be connected to acute care hospitals, or they can be independent stand alone clinics. There are differences in working either one.

A patient for same day surgery has to be, is, very healthy. They are assessed and cleared by their primary care physician, they are assessed by the surgeon, they may, or always, receive a pre-op phone call from the anesthesiologist and the pre-op nurse to review their health, medications, etc. The pre op nurse mainly checks the paper work, takes vitals, wittiness the consent, puts in an IV. It is not the time or place for a head to toe assessment, not even listen to lungs, heart, etc., UNLESS, they present with c/o chest pain or trouble breathing, are asthmatic, etc. (then they may be sent to the ER?) Of course there can be more assessing done. I'm just keeping it simple.

The OR is run like an assembly line. Ideally the patients are moved in and out by the clock. The surgeon loses money, wastes their time, if they are ready for the patient and the pre-op staff does not have the patient ready. Plus making the following case start late!

Even in PACU, a fresh out of OR sedated patient is moved quickly. These days anesthesia is so "light" and short acting, patients are wheeled out of OR sitting up joking with the anesthesiologist and nurse. I've worked out patient surgery clinics where I've been"threatened" with an incident report if a stable patient was kept over 2 hours. So of course you assess them, but a quick one, then start their snacks, start their pain pills, go over post op instructions with their ride home, and out the door.