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O U T P AT 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 | A U G U S T 2 0 1 4
T U R N O V E R
W
hat can get in the way of speedy room
turnovers? Plenty, according to our
panel of surgical facility leaders.
•
Breaks.
"During the turnover is when we provide
the scrub staff a break. Sometimes it is hard to
allow that break if the RNs are busy."
•
Slow-moving staff.
"Slow response from order-
lies, or they're tied up in another room and not avail-
able. Some staff members don't see it as their job to
assist."
•
No dedicated turnover team.
"We don't have a housekeeping team, so the
nurses and techs are responsible for cleaning the rooms, gathering equipment
and supplies, and opening up for their next case. It is a lot to do in a short
amount of time, but as long as there is teamwork, we can get it done."
•
Dry time.
"Kill-time for the cleaning solution on surfaces and floors before
opening for the next case."
•
Multiple rooms at the same time.
"Not having enough staff, but also the
variable of how often the rooms turn at the same time."
•
Change.
"Going from a carpal tunnel to a shoulder scope, or converting a
shoulder table to a knee table."
•
Site marking.
"The physician not seeing the next patient to mark the surgical
site before he talks to the current patient's family."
•
Anesthesia.
"The patient is too sleepy and needs to stay in the room
longer until he's stable." Adds another: "We aren't supposed to wipe down
the room until the patient is out of the room."
•
Wet floors.
"Our greatest challenges are the arthroscopy cases with irri-
gation fluid on the floor."
SPEED BUMPS
10 Roadblocks to Speedy Room Turnover
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
