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STAFFING
pacing manufacturer guidelines and staff skills. Without a full-time
IT department, biomedical engineer or seasoned circulator, you're
seriously handicapped when equipment doesn't work.
Case in point: During a routine procedure, the anesthesia monitor
begins to flash an error message stating the "CO2 monitoring line is
occluded." The circulator frantically searches for the monitor's manuKEY SKILLS
My Nursing Wish List
W
hat will the next generation of nurses be like? Will they be smarter?
More technologically advanced?
I'm not sure, but the nurse of the future, if I had
my way, would be able to troubleshoot basic
issues in the following areas:
• Electrical. Check plugs and fuses, and ensure wires aren't kinked.
• "Handyman" fixes. It's surprising what duct tape, zip ties and WD-40
can do.
• Video. Match the ends of plugs to correct receptacles, and don't force
them.
• Basic computing. Can you get that wireless connection back online?
• Plumbing. If it looks like water damage, it is. Know how to shut off a
valve, identify a leak and how long a drywall patch job actually takes to
complete.
D E C E M B E R 2012 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
— Stacy Gober, RN, BSN
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