forgot when her hour commenced (to be fair, lunch relief start times
vary depending on case complexity and difficulty). Or maybe the
scrub nurse became so engrossed in the Rachael Ray Show playing in
the OR lounge that time stood still.
• "I'm not feelin' well." Gee, if you're sick, why wait till you return
from lunch to tell everyone? Since the entire OR has been exposed to
an infectious contagion all morning, why become Typhoid Mary in the
OR lounge? All capable charge nurses recognize that sick employees
may infect patients and staff alike. There is no room for equivocation:
Send them home immediately. However, charge nurses can't read
minds. Ill employees need to come clean and inform superiors of their
condition as soon as possible — not after sharing utensils (and air) in
the lunch room.
• "Late? Who me?" Denial is indeed not a river in Egypt. Even the
most flagrant of offenders will protest violently that there is simply no
offense. I witnessed a tech gone so long that the scrub nurse kept a
diary. When confronted, the guilty party usually is very animated in
her defense. Then it becomes a matter of who is telling the truth. He
Said, She Said can sometimes become quite comical, unless I'm dis-
secting out a nerve during the course of the harangue. Until employ-
ees are required to clock out for lunch, opposing testimonies will
always be a source of contention.
Late lunch
Lunch relief serves a very important function. The basic human needs
for nutrition and rest have to be met to ensure a peaceful and happy
OR culture. I just can't wait for the day when we can track lunch relief
times with portable electronic sensors.
OSM
Dr. Kelly (johndak4@gmail.com) is an orthopedic surgeon/sports-shoulder
specialist who practices in Philadelphia, Pa.
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