What is your OR Time OUT consist of??

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Specializes in OR.

So whats being asked, documented for your hospital OR's time out???

DVT? Beta blockers? :confused:

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Specializes in Operating Room.

We do an identification with the surgeon, anesthesia and the circulator as soon as the pt comes to the room. Before incision is made, we do a time out stating the patients name, laterality and what procedure we're doing. The nurse checks the consent to make sure everything lines up and I'll state that everything is correct out loud. Everyone in the room has to stop and pay attention to the time out.

When I was a tech, I'd hide the scalpel on the surgeon until he did a time out. Believe it or not, some used to try to get away with not doing one. :no:Everyone takes it seriously now, as they should.

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When I was a tech, I'd hide the scalpel on the surgeon until he did a time out. Believe it or not, some used to try to get away with not doing one. :no:Everyone takes it seriously now, as they should.

That is freakin awesome. Most techs will hand the scalpel whether or not a time out was performed. Way to look out for your circulator (and patient.)

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Specializes in OPERATING ROOM, ICU.

We identify the patient when we come into the room. We also confirm the procedure, surgeon, side, any allergies, and if antibiotic was given. After the surgeon has scrubbed and is in the room to stay, we do a final time out. That consists of identifying the patient, surgeon, procedure, patient position, antibiotic given (check for timeliness), implants available (if applicable). Everyone in the room must participate and agree.

I love the idea of the tech keeping the blade away from the surgeon until final time out has been concluded. What an advocate!

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Specializes in Operating Room.
That is freakin awesome. Most techs will hand the scalpel whether or not a time out was performed. Way to look out for your circulator (and patient.)

LOL, thanks! I think it was partly because we've had a few incidents in my state that were made very public. I'm not someone who will butt heads with a doc over every little thing, but wrong site surgery is a huge issue. Plus, I always had it in the back of my mind that I was going to be a nurse some day, so I tried to be a team player with my circulator.

Ha ha, in my last hospital..the nurse would announce the time out and some docs would try to talk over you. They did this to me one day, so I very loudly announced...

I'M NOT WEARING A BRA TODAY!!!!!

Silence fell, and I said "Now that I have your attention, we have Mr Smith, who is having a right hernia repair...."

:chuckleLuckily, everyone in that room had a good sense of humor.

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Specializes in 2 years school nurse, 15 in the OR!.

When I get in the room I introduce the scrub and have the patient say outloud what side we are working on, or what we are doing. "Can you tell Susie what kind of surgery we are doing today?" Right before we cut I say, "Time out for Mr. Jones, we are doing a right knee arthroscopy..." One doctor told me I'm too loud, I don't care I make sure and get their attention. If I don't get a response, I'm like, "hello???" I also say allergies. Surgeons have learned with me you better say something or I get louder and louder...

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Specializes in surgical, emergency.

Our basic time out consists of the pt name, surgery, and specifically the side if it applies.

Typically, the circulator does it, but if for some reason they don't, I've often seen the scub tech ask for it, or the surgeon or anes doc does it.

I try to do it after the surgeon is in the room for the last time, before the incision is made of course.

Mike

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..... One doctor told me I'm too loud, I don't care I make sure and get their attention......

I've never heard of a surgeon complaining about a circulator being too loud. They should be happy that you are speaking loud and clear.

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Specializes in CST in general surgery, LDRs, & podiatry.

when i was a tech, i'd hide the scalpel on the surgeon until he did a time out. believe it or not, some used to try to get away with not doing one. :no:everyone takes it seriously now, as they should.

heehee - awesome! we have something in common! my version of that was to always tell them that i had failed to throw a blade before i scrubbed in, look sheepish (as much as possible in a cap, mask and safety glasses), bat my eyelashes at them, and say we'd have to wait on the circulator to get me one after the time out was done! it didn't take too long for them to get the idea that they weren't getting a scalpel from me until we got through that process. (and they all knew better than to try and grab anything off my mayo. the first time who one tried that, he got a rap on the knuckles with a hemostat :no: - not brutal, just lightly to get his attention and make sure he realized that was not acceptable. it never happened again.)

we id'd the patient when they came in the room by introducing them to whomever was in the room at the time, and then before scalpel time, we'd repeat name, procedure, position, side of the body, allergies and the circulator would have to give us the yay or nay to get started.

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Specializes in 2 years school nurse, 15 in the OR!.
I've never heard of a surgeon complaining about a circulator being too loud. They should be happy that you are speaking loud and clear.

Thanks Linda!!! I agree, what's wrong with being loud? It's better then making a mistake!

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Where I work... time outs lately have been a HUGE issue it's been crazy nuts!!!!!!!

First the patient comes in the room and we ask them to identify themselves and what they are going to have done

After the patient is draped and ready we have to make sure EVERYBODY is looking directly at me and the time out consists of

Patient Name

Date of birth and age

Type of surgery and what side

Is the site marked?

What kind of antibiotic and if it was given

If the patient received any beta blockers or anticoagulants

What position the patient is in

If the prep is dry

Allergies

Any safety measures taken depending on patient history

Are the correct x-rays or images up

Blood products (are they available)

What kind of implants are being used and if they are available in the room

Do we have all the correct instruments/trays

Any questions/comments?

On top of that we have to write down the time we did the time out on our OR record.... plus fill out another whole sheet checking off every aspect of the time out as mentioned above.... plus write who was in the room at the time :bugeyes:

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Is your OR manager mentally ill?

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