Perioperative Scrub Nurse Role
Question 1
Hand washing is very important in order to prevent infection (Leifso, Sheehan, & Knoll, Module 3, 2012). Routine hand washing involves turning on the water, applying soap and then washing for up to 20 seconds (CDC, 2009). All areas should be washed, including the front of the hands, back of the hands, in between fingers, and around the nails (CDC, 2009). After rinsing, paper towels are then used to dry the hands and close the tap (CDC, 2009). Alcohol based hand sanitizers should only be used if it is not possible to get to a sink and if the hands are not visibly dirty (Leifso, Sheehan, & Knoll, Module 3, 2012).
Surgical hand washing, also known as the surgical scrub, is the process of removing as
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The surgical hand hygiene is used just before putting on the surgical attire and entering the operating room (Phillips, 2013).
Surgical hand washing and routine hand washing are similar because they both require all surfaces of the hand to be washed. As well, jewelry is removed for both procedures (Phillips, 2013). Routine hand washing involves simply soap, and possibly an antimicrobial agent, whereas surgical hand washing requires an approved antimicrobial agent for use in the operating room (Phillips, 2013). One of the biggest differences between the two hand washing procedures is that surgical hand washing is done for a much longer period of time.
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However, the procedure for the final count for a patient undergoing a cesarean section is to first count the tapes, sponges and needles before the uterus is closed, and then another count is completed before the peritoneum, skin and fascia are closed (Phillips, 2013). The surgical count is completed in order to protect patients from retaining items used during surgery (ORNAC, 2015).
During an incorrect count, the scrub nurse should notify the surgeon immediately, and the count should be completed again (Phillips, 2013). The circulating nurse should check the floor, trash, furniture and the entire operating room (Phillips, 2013). The scrub nurse should check the mayo stand and the drapes (Phillips, 2013). The surgeon will check the wound and surgery field (Phillips, 2013). The immediate supervisor should be notified and should check the count and help the team with the search (Phillips, 2013). If the search is unable to find the missing item, then the surgeon will decide whether or not to close the wound before an x-ray is taken. In any case of an unresolved count, an x-ray should be completed before the patient exits the operating room (Phillips, 2013). This x-ray will show if any item is still in the patient (Phillips, 2013). An incident report should be completed by the circulating nurse and documentation should be made on the operating room record even
The patient will be asked to remove clothing and will be given a gown to
So that there no exposed to bacteria or sickness, because there around opened bodies all the time. After they have cleaned the operating room up, they will keep posted on the patient, clean their wounds, clean their rooms, with new pillows new bedsheets, and keeping the patient healthy. The surgical technologist will keep the surgeon in check just in case of emergencies, bleed outs, and in case of the patient failing.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. Always wash your hands:
Paying attention to detail is very important in this occupation. Your job is to reaction of the surgeon and the action around you as well. Also, a strong stomach is highly suggested because you have no idea what could be scheduled for that day, and also you are assisting by cutting someone open. Some of the thing you will see will be disturbing or even amazing. Even though working in a stressful but yet, exciting places, to have a shaky hand isn’t so great either. “You need to remain calm and focus on your duties no matter how simple or complex a procedure may be.” (Rasmussen.edu). Surgical Technicians are required to set up equipment, tools, and to prepare the room for the surgery. They work under the arms of a surgeon by passing the tools in a unique way. They can also have many names such as “OR Techs” or “OP Techs”. To become a Surgical Tech, you must have an associate degree and to complete the certification of a surgical
The Company publishes "Modern Methods of Antiseptic Wound Treatment," which quickly becomes one of the standard teaching texts for antiseptic surgery. It helps spread the practice of sterile surgery in the U.S. and around the world.
Retained foreign objects have been a major problem throughout operating rooms, labor and delivery, as well as any other procedural area that perform invasive procedures. Retained foreign objects include soft goods, such as sponges, needles, sharps, instruments and other small miscellaneous items used during a procedure (NoThing Left Behind, 2013). The retention of these items can lead to several complications such as a local tissue reactions, infection, obstruction of blood vessels, and even death (Mathias, 2013, p. 2) According to the OR Manager, the effects of a retained surgical item can lead to patients having a increased mortality rate by 2.14%, an increased hospital stay by 2.08 days, and increased hospital costs by $13,315 (Mathias, 2013, p.1). In response to this, NoThing Left Behind was created. NoThing Left Behind is a national surgical safety project that was created as a system wide policy to help prevent the event of a retained surgical item (RSI). This project estimates that there are 1500-2000 retained surgical items left in patients each year within the United States (NoThing Left Behind, 2013). Furthermore, evidence shows that there has been an increase in retained foreign objects left within patients that undergo invasive procedures that occur outside of the operating room and labor and delivery. Therefore, the focus of this paper is to analyze the negative impact, physically, emotionally, and financially, on patients as well as the hospital, related to retained foreign objects during an invasive procedure. The focus is on areas such as the catheterization lab, endoscopy, emergency room, and other bedside procedures where there is no accounting process in place.
This literature review will analyze and critically explore four studies that have been conducted on hand hygiene compliance rates by Healthcare workers (HCWs). Firstly, it will look at compliance rates for HCWs in the intensive care units (ICU) and then explore the different factors that contribute to low hand hygiene compliance. Hospital Acquired infections (HAI) or Nosocomial Infections appear worldwide, affecting both developed and poor countries. HAIs represent a major source of morbidity and mortality, especially for patients in the ICU (Hugonnet, Perneger, & Pittet, 2002). Hand hygiene can be defined as any method that destroys or removes microorganisms on hands (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). According to the World Health Organization (2002), a HAI can be defined as an infection occurring in a patient in a hospital or other health care facility in whom the infection was not present or incubating at the time of admission. The hands of HCWs transmit majority of the endemic infections. As
After surgery, they monitor the patient to see if there are any problems while they are coming off an anesthesia (Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives…) If there are no problems the surgery will be deemed as successful, and the nurse anesthetist will report all findings to the
Whitby, M., Pessoa-Silva, C., Mclaws, M., Allegranzi, B., Sax, H., Larson, E., Seto, W., Donaldson, L. & Pittet, D. (2007). Behavioural considerations for hand hygiene practices: the basic building blocks. Journal Of Hospital Infection, 65 (1), pp. 113-114. 1--8.
(2014) shed light on two key components for infection control, which includes protecting patients from acquiring infections and protecting health care workers from becoming infected (Curchoe et al., 2014). The techniques that are used to protect patients also provide protection for nurses and other health care workers alike. In order to prevent the spread of infections, it is important for health care workers to be meticulous and attentive when providing care to already vulnerable patients (Curchoe et al., 2014). If a health care worker is aware they may contaminate the surroundings of a patient, they must properly clean, disinfect, and sterilize any contaminated objects in order to reduce or eliminate microorganisms (Curchoe et al., 2014). It is also ideal to change gloves after contact with contaminated secretions and before leaving a patient’s room (Curchoe, 2014). Research suggests that due to standard precaution, gloves must be worn as a single-use item for each invasive procedure, contact with sterile sites, and non-intact skin or mucous membranes (Curchoe et al., 2014). Hence, it is critical that health care workers change gloves during any activity that has been assessed as carrying a risk of exposure to body substances, secretions, excretions, and blood (Curchoe et al.,
“Researchers in London estimate that if everyone routinely washed their hands, a million deaths a year could be prevented” (“Hygiene Fast Facts”, 2013, p. 1). Hands are the number one mode of transmission of pathogens. Hands are also vital in patient interaction, and therefore should be kept clean to protect the safety of patients and the person caring for the patient. Hand hygiene is imperative to professional nursing practice because it prevents the spread of pathogens, decreases chances of hospital-acquired infections, and promotes patient safety. There is a substantial amount of evidence that shows why hand hygiene is important in healthcare
Time out was done by the anesthesiologist, the circulating nurse, the surgeon, and the scrub tech all pausing before the surgery and verifying the patient’s name and date of birth, the procedure being done, the site and location on the body in which the procedure was being done, and documented the count of all the equipment the scrub nurse had before surgery to compare to after surgery. 5. The patient’s privacy was protected and respected throughout the whole surgical procedure. The staff was very professional and I felt I learned a lot from them during my OR experience. 6. A sponge count is when the scrub nurse counts the sponges that are unused before the surgery she relays this to the circulating nurse and it is documented. After the surgery the count is redone to make sure that there are no sponges left in the patient. 7. The circulating nurse documents the information and signs the chart in the operating room. From pre-op to the operating room the nurses in pre-op gave off report to the circulating nurse by SBAR. From the operating room to PACU the anesthesiologist went with the patient and handed off the patient’s condition and information to the nurse in there. 8. There were no ethical or legal issues that were raised during my observation in the whole surgical process. 9. I learned how the whole operating procedure works from start to finish, all the legal paperwork involved, and how the team interacts and helps each other out to give the patient a safe and
Effective hand washing is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of germs and to keep you from getting sick, because it prevents transmission of pathogens. But what exactly is the most effective way to wash hands?
Surgical nursing or operating room nursing is very important in health care since, they do not only work with the patients before surgery (preoperatively), besides, they also work with the patients in their recovery period (intraoperatively), as well as the post-operative period (postoperatively). Like all other nurses, surgical nurses need to graduate from a two or four degree program in nursing, and must pass a national licensing exam, qualifying them as a registered nurse. Besides, nurses are train and specialize in different capacity. Furthermore, a nurse can become certified in the medical-surgical care if they so desired. Offer by the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board and the American Nurses Credentialing
Circulating nurses must check the expiry date and the integrity of the packaging and wear the correct PPE prior to opening the articles. Each article must maintain its sterility; therefore the setup must be continuously monitored. Instrument nurses must create the sterile field using sterile drapes as they minimise the transference of microorganisms. They must also keep their hands at chest level, as areas below table height can be easily contaminated (Australian College of Operating Room Nurses, 2010).