Operating room nurse

Job description

When Patient Arrives:

• Greet and identify the patient
• Check patients chart for consent accomplish preoperative checklist
• Be sure to cover the patient hair with cap
• Transfer the patient to OR table
• Make the patient comfortable

During Induction of Anesthesia:

• Help/assist the anesthesiologist in positioning the patient
• Assist the patient in assuming position for anesthesia
• Anticipate the anesthesiologist needs

If spinal anesthesia:

• Place the patient in quasi-fetal position, provide pillow
• Perform lumbar prep aseptically
• Anticipate anesthesiologist's needs

After the Patient in Anaesthetize:

• Reposition the patient per anesthesiologist instruction
• Attach anesthesia screen and arm boards
• Apply restrains on the patient
• Exposed the area for skin preparation
• Catheterize the patient if needed
• Turn on OR light
• Perform skin prep

When Surgeon Arrives After Scrubbing:

• Gown and glove the surgeon and his assistants as soon as they arrive
• Bring mayo stand and back table in position after draping is completed
• Drop the end of the suction tube and cattery cord for the circulating nurse to connect to their proper attachment
• Check suction machine

During Operation:

• Provide sponges on the operative site prior to skin incision
• Pass the first knife to be surgeon and a hemostat to the assistant
• Watch the field/procedure and anticipate the surgeon's needs
• Pass instruments in a decisive and positive manner
• Watch out for signals and keep instruments as clean as possible
• Notify CN if you need additional instruments and supplies
• Keep sponges clean on the field
• Save and care for tissue specimen according clinic policy
• Maintain sterile technique and watch for any breaks
• Step away from sterile field if contaminated
• Changes gloves when pricked by needles
• Do not turn your back from sterile field
• Keep sterile field as dry as possible
• Discard soiled sponges from sterile field
• Keep talking to a minimum

During Closure:

• Count sponges, needles and instruments with CN
• Always ready your suture, clamp, forceps and straight scissor
• Have a clean damp sponge ready to clean the incision site
• Have dressing and antiseptic ready
• Assist in application of pressure dressing

Duties on the Scrub Nurse:

• Check instruments and supplies
• Do a complete scrub
• Gown and glove
• Draped the mayo stand
• Count sponges, surgical needles and instruments as the CN stands to counter checking the counting
• Arrange the instrument on the mayo table and on the back table
• Place blade on knife handle.  Assemble the suction tip and the suction tube
• Assemble the drapes according to use and ready the towel clips
• Prepare sutures and needles according to use

Duties of the Circulating Nurse:

• See to it that the OR is ready for operation
• After the scrub person scrubs
• Fasten the back of the scrub person's gown
• Open package of the sterile supplies
• Assist the scrub nurse in counting the sponges, needles and instruments
• Write the figure on the white board

Duties of the Endoscopy Nurse:

• Responsible to retrieve the patient's data and signed consent.
• Prepare the needed instruments and supplies for scheduled procedure.
• Explain to the patient in layman's term how the procedure will be done and who is to conduct procedure.
• Keep the patient as comfortable as possible and offer emotional support and reassurance if needed.  Answer any questions as thorough as possible.
• Assist the physician all throughout the scheduled procedure.
• Evaluate the patient's level of discomfort, unusual reaction/s during procedure and inform the physician as soon possible.
• Monitor and record vital signs before and after procedure, and when medication is given or excision of tissue sample/s.
• Keep track of all recording done all throughout the procedure.  From start to finish.
• Maintaining the endoscopy room clean and instruments sterile.
• Put all VCDs or VHS tape recording of procedure in its proper place.