Turnover Times

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 4, 2018

The thing with turnover is that surgeon believe turnover is from the time they walk out of a room and then make incision on the next patient. Many of them are clueless as to what happens in between. Perhaps suggest to the surgeon that he/she should stay in the room and observe everything that happens.

offlabel · Nov 4, 2018

Hello! Seeking feedback on a situation where a surgeon compared my turnover times with a few nurses on my team in front of my OR staff. (One of each he hasn't worked with for a year.) When surgeon was presented with actual real data of my turnover times - being among the best - was then told, "it's a perception that your turnover times are slow." I am taking this critique as a challenge to safely improve my turnover times. However, when data shows otherwise, how do you correct a "perception". This feels personal, but I was reassured it wasn't. Thank you for your thoughts.

You can improve an objectively demonstrable deficiency by demonstrating improvement in deficient areas. You say you are being asked to improve a "perception", which is, by definition, subjective. There isn't anyone but the person(s) with the perception that can tell you how to appear differently to him.

Since you asked, I'd be keeping an eye out for a less irrational place to work.

RNWoodhouse · Nov 4, 2018

Your last statement makes me a bit nervous. I like where I work. I am taking this as maybe I'm not wanted where I work.

RNWoodhouse · Nov 5, 2018

You're exactly correct. He is counting the time from when he walked out of room until he was able to cut again. Not considering everything in between.

guest974915 · Nov 5, 2018

I've worked in surgery for a very long time and I've just had it with these prima donna surgeons. In between cases, they sit in the physicians' lounge shooting the bull, stuffing their faces or drinking their coffee while the OR staff bust their humps turning over their rooms. Then, after hustling to open all of their 'Bells and Whistles' (supplies and trays), they have the audacity to complain about these times. I suggest the surgeon(s) not only stay in the room, but actually help-bag up the trash and start swinging a mop.

Kooky Korky, BSN, RN · Nov 6, 2018

I've worked in surgery for a very long time and I've just had it with these prima donna surgeons. In between cases, they sit in the physicians' lounge shooting the bull, stuffing their faces or drinking their coffee while the OR staff bust their humps turning over their rooms. Then, after hustling to open all of their 'Bells and Whistles' (supplies and trays), they have the audacity to complain about these times. I suggest the surgeon(s) not only stay in the room, but actually help-bag up the trash and start swinging a mop.

OP, you know better than to suggest these things, right?

Some docs do dictation or return calls, go p or b, whatever during in-between times.

I would simply ask the surgeon to stay in the room, observe all that needs to get done and see who does it, then tell you specifically how you can improve.

Be diplomatic. Maybe invlove your boss? It does sound like it might be best to not work with this particular doc any more.

Are you having any other problems at work?

Best wishes.

jena5111, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2018

The level of emphasis on OR turnover time is absurd. It places undue stress on all OR staff and contributes to incivility among said staff.

I circulated in a level 1 trauma center and encountered far more "hair-on-fire" turnover shenanigans from charge nurses and the OR NM than any surgeon. If anything, I noticed surgeons complimenting OR staff when they had to follow-to follow-to follow cases (not identical setups depending on procedure) because, in their perception, we were efficient.

As a circulator, I wouldn't beat myself up over feedback from an individual surgeon. Not about turnover time, anyway! Get your charge nurse involved if it continues--that's why s/he makes the big bucks (haha) during charge shifts.

Good luck, OP!