Idaes That Work
IW
1 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J U L Y 2 0 1 9
W
ant to keep
things run-
ning
smoothly all day?
Then get off to a fast
start with your first-
time starts. Here's how
we did it:
• Don't waste pre-
cious time looking for
perioperative team
members before sur-
gery. Instruct the
entire surgical team to meet and huddle at the pre-op bedside.
• Have all your consents completed ahead of time in pre-procedure.
You don't want to do them last-minute in the pre-op area.
• Streamline the pre-op briefing process to include the timeout list
as a pre-check before taking patients to the OR.
• Use a standardized checklist, signed by each member, to improve
communication among pre-op, surgery and PACU/discharge staff.
• Gather the soft supplies the day before the case.
• If you have trouble with antibiotics being ready when you need
them, consider adding a refrigerator in pre-op so the antibiotics can
be delivered and stored until needed.
Linda Pinkston, MSN, RN, CNOR
Phoenix (Ariz.) VA Health Care System
linda.pinkston@va.gov
FIRST-TIME STARTS
Come Out Prepared, Have A Smooth Day
• PREP WORK Courtney Clemens, MSN, RN, CNOR, left, and Frankie Wooten, RN,
gather soft supplies the day before surgery.
Phoenix
(Ariz.)
VA
Health
Care
System
