AHS3263: Surgical Nursing

Role of a Technician in Surgery:

• Anesthesiologist

  • Monitoring - you know before the surgeon does if something isn’t right

• Instrument finder/table mover/light

• Human retractor

• Cheerleader/psychologist

Steps/Roles:

• Check-in/History

• Pre-op exam/MDB

• Anesthesia/Surgery prep

• Monitoring

• Post-op

• Discharge

Surgical Conscience:

• The willingness to be held liable for each one' own actions in providing health care to the patient & not hesitating to admit a break in aseptic technique in order to prevent the patient from acquiring a surgical wound infection

3 Areas in Surgery:

• Preparation area

  • Should be adjacent to the surgery room

  • Ideal to have a separate anesthesia machine

  • Clipping patient/shaving

  • “Dirty” procedures

    • Abscesses, debridement of old wounds, etc

• Scrub area

  • Scrub sink

  • Autoclave

  • Gown & glove

• Surgical room

  • Ideally a separate room 

  • No clutter! 

  • Door

Asepsis:

• State of being free of living pathogenic microorganisms 

• Condition of sterility

• Typically refers to LIVING STRUCTURES

Aseptic Technique:

• Definition - defined as the methods & practices that prevent CROSS CONTAMINATION in surgery

• Involves proper preparation of the facilities & environment, surgical site, surgical team, & surgical equipment

• Overall purpose is to AVIOD INFECTIONS

• Sources of microorganisms from two routes:

  • Exogenous route

    • Air

    • Surgical supplies

    • Patient’s skin

    • Surgical team

  • Endogenous route

    • Bacteremia: Through the bloodstream

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