What do you want O.R. nurses to do during a trauma alert?

ThrowEdNurse, BSN, RN · Mar 3, 2009

Verbalize loudly that you are in the room with your name if we need anything. I sometimes look up during a trauma and there are so many nurses I don't know just standing there or talking and I may need something, but can't get anyone's attention. If you hear somebody say they need something, offer to go get it. If none of this works then just be helpful by keeping the noise volume produced by those not helping to a minimum.

linda2097 · Mar 3, 2009

Verbalize loudly that you are in the room with your name if we need anything.

I'll be the only one wearing a hairnet. :wink2:

llltapp · Mar 3, 2009

I would LOVE to have an OR nurse available. You can help consent, make sure paperwork is in order, and assist in transport to the OR. God Bless Ya! lol

chip193 · Mar 3, 2009

I'll be the only one wearing a hairnet. :wink2:

Not in our trauma room!

Seriously, make sure that all you have all the information that you need should a run to the OR be needed. Look at your paperwork while you look at mine - make sure all the "i"s are dotted and the "t"s are crossed.

Remember that at night, there are fewer resources available to the whole hospital. A trauma in the ER will take resources away from other patients. If the trauma isn't headed to the OR, take a look around the ER for a second. If you even answer one call bell, give a patient a blanket, or something else that seems so silly, but is so often overlooked, the other patients will realize that they are still being taken care of. Just make sure that you stay within your own comfort level - taking primary responsibility for the STEMI that just came through the door would definately be a challenge!

And, by the way, thanks for going to the ER and thanks for asking what we need from you.

Aneroo, LPN · Mar 3, 2009

I'll be the only one wearing a hairnet. :wink2:

Not in our ER either. :lol2: We dress OUT- foot covers, hair covers, mask, eye shields, lead and plastic gowns. After a long trauma, your are STANK. Yech. :lol2:

First of all- thanks for thinking of us to find out what you can do to help. Paperwork is one of the biggest barriers IMO. There are so many things that have to be checked x3. I'd check with the charge nurse to find out what you can do.

It probably also depends on the hospital. When I worked in the trauma center, I am sure the trauma team would have welcomed an OR nurse. We paged overhead when there was a trauma coming in (hospital wide) so they right teams knew to get in place (x-ray, CT, respiratory, etc). In the small hospital where the ER docs didn't know which end was up and didn't get the same urgency with traumas- they'd probably yell at you and tell you to get out.

S.T.A.C.E.Y, LPN · Mar 5, 2009

In our hosital, the OR was notified when a bad trauma was suspected (not all trauma cases) OR nurses NEVER came up to the trauma room. Occassionally trauma patients were in the operating room

Jarnaes · Mar 5, 2009

One of our anesthesia personnel (CRNA or MD) usually runs down to ED to help out. As you know, there is an incredible amount of supplies, equipment and instrument sets required to do a big surgical case.

My responsibility is to have everything ready/open and available in the OR. I ensure that there will not be any delays when you come crashing through the doors with an open chest .

linda2097 · Mar 6, 2009

.....My responsibility is to have everything ready/open and available in the OR. I ensure that there will not be any delays when you come crashing through the doors with an open chest .

Yes, but I am talking about before surgery is booked. Many trauma cases end up not needing surgery. Next time I get a trauma alert, I'm going to the ER to learn about the patient and anticipate needs of the O.R.

If surgery is needed, I will rush back to the OR and set up.

Jarnaes · Mar 6, 2009

Yes, the majority of the time you'll have time to go down to the ER and check it out, and wait for the case to get posted.

BUT when you do have one of those massive trauma cases, you are not going to have time to just "rush back to the OR and set up". You should have been set up! So, I think going to the ER it's a bad habit to develop, eventually it will come back and bite you.

If you are so fascinated by the happenings in the ER, go shadow an ER nurse at your facility.

linda2097 · Mar 6, 2009

.... BUT when you do have one of those massive trauma cases, you are not going to have time to just "rush back to the OR and set up". You should have been set up! So, I think going to the ER it's a bad habit to develop, eventually it will come back and bite you....

Well, if a patient is going to be rushed to the OR without any notice, the OR is not going to be ready anyway.

Scenario 1: I never leave the OR. Patient is rushed to the OR without any notice. The OR staff starts setting up as soon as they see the patient.

Scenario 2: I wait in the ER for the patient to arrive to the hospital. I will probably see the patient before a surgeon does. I can anticipate and call other people in the OR and tell them exactly what to do. I can run to OR faster than the patient is transported and help my OR coworkers set up.

Jarnaes · Mar 6, 2009

No patient will ever get rushed to the OR without notice, but that precious time you spend rushing through the hallway could have been better spent getting your stuff ready. That's all. In the end it is your call.