2 answers
Bailey
Student
Yuma, Arizona
2
Questions
Updated
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What does an OR nurse do on a daily basis?
I would like to become a nurse and am wondering what certain nurses do especially in the operating room.
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2 answers
Madyson Shakespear
Anesthesia Technician
8
Answers
Logan, Utah
Updated
Madyson’s Answer
Hello,
I currently work in the operating rooms and interact with many OR nurses. Here is a short list of things OR nurses do on a daily basis:
1- First thing they do in the mornings is report to their assigned room and prep the room for the first surgery. They do this by pulling up the first patients chart and gathering the medications ordered by the surgeon. Next they gather things needed to position the patient during the surgery. These things could include foam pads, gel pads, Velcro strips, etc.
2- Next, they either visit the patient in pre-op or call the floor (surgical, medical, ICU, ER) for a report on the patient. As they are talking with the patient they ensure that the surgical consent and the anesthesia consent is signed and dated. This interaction is normally fairly brief.
3- Then the nurse brings the patient back to the operating rooms and guides them into their designated OR suite. The nurse helps get the patient on the bed and assists the anesthesiologist in putting the patient to sleep (as needed, some facilities have anesthesia technicians that perform this role).
4- After the patient is asleep the nurse will help position the patient into the surgeons desires position. Then they will use an antiseptic and prepare the surgical site.
5- After the case begins the nurse will gather needed supplies for the surgeon. Additionally, they will chart everything that was used and any additional information for things that happened during the case.
6- At the end of the case the nurse will help transfer the patient back to the non-operating room bed and help clean up the room in preparation for the next case. The nurse will also report to PACU any information when they transfer patient care over to them.
7- Then the cycle repeats for each case of the day.
Hope this helps!
I currently work in the operating rooms and interact with many OR nurses. Here is a short list of things OR nurses do on a daily basis:
1- First thing they do in the mornings is report to their assigned room and prep the room for the first surgery. They do this by pulling up the first patients chart and gathering the medications ordered by the surgeon. Next they gather things needed to position the patient during the surgery. These things could include foam pads, gel pads, Velcro strips, etc.
2- Next, they either visit the patient in pre-op or call the floor (surgical, medical, ICU, ER) for a report on the patient. As they are talking with the patient they ensure that the surgical consent and the anesthesia consent is signed and dated. This interaction is normally fairly brief.
3- Then the nurse brings the patient back to the operating rooms and guides them into their designated OR suite. The nurse helps get the patient on the bed and assists the anesthesiologist in putting the patient to sleep (as needed, some facilities have anesthesia technicians that perform this role).
4- After the patient is asleep the nurse will help position the patient into the surgeons desires position. Then they will use an antiseptic and prepare the surgical site.
5- After the case begins the nurse will gather needed supplies for the surgeon. Additionally, they will chart everything that was used and any additional information for things that happened during the case.
6- At the end of the case the nurse will help transfer the patient back to the non-operating room bed and help clean up the room in preparation for the next case. The nurse will also report to PACU any information when they transfer patient care over to them.
7- Then the cycle repeats for each case of the day.
Hope this helps!
George Ducach
Podiatry
32
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
George’s Answer
I am a Foot Surgeon (Podiatry) so I cannot answer this question for you the way an actual OR nurse can. I can tell you that, after over 40 years of practice and operating in various local hospitals, I have worked with quite a few OR nurses. Their role seems to have changed a little due to the presence of OR technicians. In my experience, I have seen nurses working more in the pre-op area, circulating in the OR (not scrubbed in) and in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). Early in my career, I trained and scrubbed more with OR nurses. In general, I have always felt fortunate and honored to work with such knowledgeable and efficient professionals. Without understanding all their responsibilities, I can tell you that every OR I had the opportunity to walk into was clean, well-stocked, the instruments lined up as I needed them and nurses in the OR that were very helpful and patient with me! I know their duties included picking the instruments I believe the day before, reading cards that had my personal preferences and making sure they were there in the OR, ordering ahead of time supplies and special equipment that may be needed during surgery, but most importantly, being prepared to use their nursing ability to deal with any medical issue that could develop at any time before, during or after surgery. Also, nurses need to do a great deal of documentation in the charts to record accurately literally what took place at every step that the patient was there. I will remain thankful forever to all the nurses that really helped me to develop into a confident foot and ankle surgeon. Good luck Bailey and continue the great work of your predecessors!
Thank you so much for the advice.
Bailey