What is going on in this OR?

How are they getting through the accreditation process? They have to know right from wrong to get through inspections, so that implies that even though they know the difference they are electing to be lazy and ignorant when they don't think anybody is watching them. Move on down the road my friend. Let those nice people have the job if their conscience can stand it.

I'm trying to figure out the same thing. I'm beginning to second guess myself, and wonder if I'm the one who is crazy. I just can't deal with it anymore. Thanks for replying, I'm beginning to think I'm nuts.

And, furthermore, I would LOVE to see their infection rates. I have only been there 6 weeks, but it's gotta be through the roof!

Is there an Infection Control specialist at the facility that you can bring your concerns to? Do they have a copy of the AORN standards?

Good luck!

No. Count. Sheet.

Get outta there!

Fracturenurse thanks for your post! I am going through a similar hell. I am also an experienced OR Nurse. I have my CNOR and have followed AORN Standards through my career. I have moved to a new state as well. I am torn as to what do to. What did you do with your situation?

The folks I work with are nice people, but they have NO standards. The constant cussing is even done in areas where patients family can hear them. I thought about going to my Nurse Manager, but her language could rival a crusty old sailor!

I am one of three people who actually change when we get to work. The others wear their OR scrubs to and from work. Which I guess doesn't matter when they wear exposed Long sleeves/turtlenecks under their scrubs. The Scrub Techs scrub in for cases with LONG SLEEVES! How is that even possible? They don't wear masks in rooms where cases are open and set up. One surgeon refuses to have the OR door closed while a case is going on.

Eating . . . they walk around eating and drinking IN THE ROOMS! I even had an Anesthesiologist ask me to get him a fresh coffee! I explained "If I wanted to be a Coffee Barista I would apply at Starbucks, I heard the benefits were good." He was not very happy, but too bad! I cannot sink to their level and bring coffee into the OR. I just learned last week that they flash their instruments between total joint cases. While observing my preceptor prep a shoulder, she started in the pit and worked out. I mentioned these practices to another nurse who seemed to be more "with it" I was told "That is what pre-op antibiotics are for."

Last week I witnessed our Rad Tech giving the Ortho Rep a crash course in running the C-ARM during a case so he could leave the room for a couple minutes. I stopped him when he got to the door and said that it was unacceptable for him to do that. He didn't see why.

Anesthesia leaves the rooms for "potty breaks" with out anyone to relieve them. REALLY!!!

Counts . . . They don't count suture needles under 11mm. There is only one Tech that counts suture needles correctly. The others count multipacks without opening them! Even when they are open they can't be bothered to count them individually. Last week I had a "seasoned" Tech drop plain 4x4's onto the mayo of a Student Tech! When I asked for them to be handed off and replaced with Raytec the Tech with "experience" thought I was nuts! The case was a thyroidectomy. I witnessed my preceptor not bother to count anything on a case. I could go on . . . and on.

They do know better, as I was told not to do things like this when they were under audit. Seriously? Thanks for the warning?

I have been there just under a month. My gut says "don't go back, just start looking for a new job." I have never just walked away from a position. I am sure since I am still on orientation they will just ask me to leave if I give two weeks notice. Any advice?

Wow, and I thought my current facility has problems. It sounds terrible to say, but one person isn't going to be able to change these bad habits. It's going to take a sentinel event and you don't want to be there when it happens. I would run, and not look back,lol.

If I were you , I wld find something else.. They obviously don't know standard precautions , sterile technique , or anytime of OR standards...

Wow, just wow! I am speechless! I'd be on the AORN website printing material out like mad and handing it to your manager. The circumstances you describe are not only ignorant but downright dangerous!

WOW, Twice!! I would run outta there so fast, their heads would spin! It's your license on the line, and you know what is safe for the patient, so don't let their crappy practices bring down your great clinical skills. I'm only 1 year into OR nursing and I love it, but all of what you're saying are even obvious to me, as a newer nurse. I'm so glad that my preceptor taught me well and hearing you talk about their horrible practices makes me nauseous to think that there are patients out there now with surgical site infections because of institutions like the one you're describing.

You'll easily find another job with your skills. I'm sorry to hear that you're having a bad experience. Hope it improves somewhere else :-)

I'm with Tachy...printing out AORN info is a good idea. But seriously it sounds like you know e aptly what to do. Good luck to you.

I am an experienced RN who started training in the OR as a perioperative nurse. I'm glad to say that even in my hospital (which is located far from the nearest big city), we follow AORN guidelines almost obsessively. I am sorry to hear about your experience and I concur with the rest of the group: protect your license and leave.

Or you can take the road less travelled and be a bastion of OR safety.

Best of luck!

i am an acute care medicine rn and thinking about taking the OR course and i even know that these practices are unsafe, maybe you can report it to licensing board after you quit, at least your conscience would be clear that you had tried to help