Approach to the OR Flashcards
what is the term for the ethical awareness of adhering to strict aseptic/sterile techniques?
surgical conscious
what is the ultimate goal of surgical conscious?
patient safety
what are the three steps to prepping the surgical site?
1) surgical site cleaning (ETOH/hibiclens)
2) primary scrub (chloraprep, duraprep, iodine)
3) secondary scrub (do it again)
how long must you wait following the secondary scrub to drape the patient?
3 minutes
what is the “time out” portion of the intraoperative time period?
confirm name, procedure, site, side, any antibiotics, and appropriate equipment (c-arm, implants, trays) with your team
done AFTER draping patient, right before surgery
extubation and anesthesia referral is considered an intraoperative or postoperative procedure?
postoperative
what is the difference between sterile and aseptic?
sterile = free from all living organisms, including microorganisms
aseptic = free from germs that cause disease
what is the primary goal of aseptic technique?
protect the patient by preventing or minimizing post-operative infection by creating conditions to prevent the introduction of microbe contamination in the sterile field or operative suite
drapes are only considered sterile at the level of what?
at level of the table
the table edge is the demarcation line; below is unsterile
all packaging of sterile products must be observed for these 3 things?
tears, fluids, and chemical indicators
once a bottle of saline is opened and a portion is dispensed, can you use the remainder of the bottle on the next patient?
NO; the remainder of the bottle is considered contaminated
when you’re not in the OR, what must you wear over your scrubs?
lab coat
is a cloth cap or a bouffant head cover more recommended as hair protection?
bouffant
if cloth cap – must be laundered daily by hospital service
im not making any handwashing cards
use your brain
are you considered “sterile” after scrubbing?
NO
is scrubbing past 10 minutes considered more effective according to studies performed on the “timed method” of scrubbing in?
no!
long scrubs may actually decrease effectiveness; stick to 2-6 minutes
if you have very sensitive skin, what scrubbing technique might work best for you?
brushless method
using ETOH/chlorhexadine gluconate solution
what are the 3 advantages to using the brushless method?
1) decreased skin irritation
2) decreased skin flora shedding
3) quicker
is the purpose of the cleansing agents we use when scrubbing in to eliminate or to minimize microbes on skin?
minimize
we can’t completely eliminate anything
we want our cleansing agents to have _______ activity and to be ________
prolonged activity
fast acting
is there one cleansing solution or technique for scrubbing in that is better than the other?
nope
when you are rinsing off, you should rinse water from _____ to ______
fingers to elbows
want those finger tips the cleanest; hands should be elevated so water can run down arms to elbow
according to the CDC, if you use an alcohol-based surgical hand-scrub product, should you pre-wash your hands and forearms with antimicrobial soap before?
NO
pre-wash hands and forearms with a NON-antimicrobial soap
who is in charge of the OR and is held responsible for adherence to OR protocols?
the RN
