1 8 • 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 a n u a r y 2 0 1 7
I
t can be difficult
to focus on
what needs to
be done when
responding quickly
and calmly to "door
busters" — true life-
and-death situations
that send members
of the perioperative
team running into
ORs to help initiate
emergency response
protocols when every second counts. We created "door buster" cards
to help organize those efforts. They list the supplies, devices and med-
ications that are needed right away in 2 columns to delineate who —
the scrub nurse or circulator — is responsible for grabbing which sup-
plies. Each column also includes priority tasks the scrub nurse and
circulating nurse need to complete. The cards are laminated and kept
on emergency response carts, at the surgical front desk and on the
health system's intranet so staff can access the information from any
computer.
Desiree Redman, BSN, RN, CNOR
university of
north Carolina Hospitals
Chapel Hill, n.C.
desiree.redman@unchealth.unc.edu
PaTIEnT SaFETy
"Door Buster" Cards Help Save Lives
• CARD READER An emergency response card like the one above makes sure staff
have needed supplies are on hand when they respond to emergent situations .
