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How to survive in the OR

  1. Before the OR case starts (usually spaced 20 minutes apart), go see the patient in the pre-operative area.
  2. Enter into the OR and write your name, learner level and glove size on the white board.
  3. Confirm whether you will be scrubbing in. If you are scrubbing in, go to the backroom and pick up your gloves (keeping in mind if patient has a latex allergy) and gown (when picking up the gown make sure you do not pick up the extra long gown by mistake).
  4. Open the gloves and gown package using sterile technique and give the glove and gown to the scrub nurse.
  5. If there is still time before the patient is brought into the room, you can get started on writing the OR note (only necessary for patients who will be admitted i.e. not day surgery). Also get started on the post-OP orders (EntryPoint has a separate order set for post-OP day surgery orders vs post-OP admission orders)
  6. If the patient’s bed is outside the OR, you can bring the patient’s bed into the room. Line the bed next to the OR table and make sure the patient’s bed is locked. Elevate the bed so that it is at the same level as the OR table.
  7. Allow the patient to slide themselves over to the OR table.
  8. Get the arm supports and hook them into the sides of the OR table
  9. Place the EKG leads onto the patient (white is right, smoke [black] over fire [red]).
  10. Place the blood pressure cuff on the patient. Place the pulse oximeter on the patient as well.
  11. Scrub in and participate in surgery!
  12. Once OR is done, pull the blue curtain back and place it in the waste bin.
  13. Rip off your gown and take your gloves off.
  14. Step outside and bring the bed back into the room, once again making sure that the bed is lined up against the OR table and elevated to the same height. Ensure that the bed is locked.
  15. Disconnect any EKG wires, pulse oximeter or blood pressure cuffs from the patient (whatever lines that were in the room before the OR started should remain in the room after the OR is finished).
  16. Next transfer the patient from the OR table back to the bed. 3 people should stand on the side of the OR table, 1 person should stand on the opposite side i.e. on the side of the bed holding the transfer board, and 1 person should stand at the patient’s feet. The person standing alone next to the bed will be holding the patient transfer board which will be used to slide the patient over. First the board needs to be wedged under the patient, so first the 3 individuals facing the OR table will lift the patient up so that the board can go under the patient. Then in the next step, they all in coordination will push the patient onto the bed, as the person holding the transfer board pulls the patient and the board towards them.
  17. Transfer any IV bags from the standing pole to the pole associated with the bed.
  18. Unlock the bed and push the patient out of the room into the hallway, and with the help of another person typically the anesthesiologist, transfer the patient to the post-OP area.
  19. When entering into the post-OP area, you will pass by the nursing station, as you pass by the station ask “where is Dr. Example’s patient going” and they will tell you where to park the bed.
  20. Park the bed in the appropriate bay and lock the bed. Connect EKG leads as described earlier, connect the pulse oximeter and apply the blood pressure cuff.
  21. Find the heated cabinet and bring 2 heated blankets for the patient. Throw the old patient blankets into the soiled linen container.