What Operating Room Nurses Do For Hospitals

The operating room nurses specialize in perioperative nursing practice. The nurses perform nursing activities such as preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases for the patients.

 

The nurse develops a rapport with the patient that improves the operative experience for the patient by developing trust and assuring the patient and the family of the best care possible.

 

The operating room nurse offers acontinuity of care throughout the perioperative period, using scientific suchas behavioral practices to meet the patient's surgical intervention requirements. The process is dynamic and continuous and requires constant revaluation of individual nursing practice in the operating room.  

Assessment  

The patient enters the area and is astudy by the preoperative RN. The perioperative RN interviews the patient toensure the patient has informed consent and has been NPO for at least 6 hrs. Before surgery, and current medical history to explain any special requirements for the care plan.   

Operating room nurses Fairfax Virginia describes to the patient what willoccur during the operative phase and tries to alleviate any stress on thepatient and their family. The nurse prepares the rapport with the patient that improves the operative experience for the patient by developing trust and assuring the patient and the family of the best care. 

The services include, but are notlimited to:  

  • Skin color, temperature, and integrity 
  • Respiratory status 
  • History of conditions that could affect surgical results 
  • Knowledge base related to the planned surgery  
  • That could arise 
  • NPO status 
  • Medications can take the morning of surgery, and the time taken 
  • Allergies and what reactions the patient experiences 
  • Placement of any metal implants, especially AICDs and pacemakers 
  • Time of chemotherapy or radiation therapies 
  • Verification of patient's name and documents 
  • Checking to verify all the medical record numbers & match the patient's name, band & paperwork 
  • This information is used to developthe perioperative pre-op nurse Bethesda Maryland service plan.   

Diagnosis   

The nursing diagnosis writes in amanner that assists in determining results. Some nursing analyses for surgicalpatients are:  

  • Impaired  exchange related to anesthesia, pain, and surgical procedure 
  • Potential  for infection related to the indwelling catheter and surgical procedure 
  • Activity intolerance related to pain 
  • Anxiety-related to anesthesia, pain, disease, surgical process 
  • Requirements are related to NPO status.   
  • Planning   

Planning the patient's care in theoperation room is focused on patient safety. The nurse gathers suppliesrequired for the procedure according to the surgeon's preference card, positioning equipment, and any unique supplies needed as explained by the nurse's assessment and the patient's history. Preparation ensure that the nurse will be capable of remaining in the surgical suite as much as possible to offer care to the patient. The nurse leaving the room is stopped as much as possible, but unforeseen circumstances may require the nurse to leave to get equipment or supplies.   

When the patient is brought operatingroom and transferred to the operating table, patient comfort and safety areprioritized. The nurse offers warmed blankets for the patient and applies the safety strap across the patient. The surgeon called the "time out" is performed with the patient participating. Items verified the time out are the patient's name, document, allergies, the procedure to be performed, the correctness of consent, site marking, if applicable, and any antibiotics to be given within one hour before incision. The patient is instructed to take deep breaths before and after anesthesia to manage oxygen saturation above 95%.   

Strict aseptic and sterile methodsare maintained throughout the surgical procedure to reduce the risk ofpostoperative infection. During the induction phase, the nurse remains at the bedside and holds the patient's hand to help reduce stress. The patient is reassured as required.    

The circulating nurse and the scrubnurse and technician work to protect and maintain constant surveillance. Inaddition, the nurse provides patient comfort by placing warm blankets, remaining at the patient's side until the anesthesia has been successfully induced and the anesthesia provider releases the patient's care to the surgical team. 

A Foley catheter will use asepticmethods. The patient will be positioned, and all body pressure points padded toprevent altered skin integrity. Before the surgical incision, the anesthesia provider initiates the infusion of the antibiotic ordered by the surgeon.  

Evaluation 

The circulating nurse monitors thepatient during the perioperative phase. They are responsible for excellenttransition for the patient between these stages. Evaluation of the patient's response to the surgical intervention is ongoing and continuous. If not, reassessment can take place to plan further.