The Perioperative Department
Nursing Manager: Kaye Labman, MSN, RN, CPAN
and Sarah Holton, BSN, RN, MBA
The Perioperative Department provides a safe environment for both patients and personnel in order to provide optimum assistance to the surgeons in meeting the emergency, preventative and restorative health needs of patients ranging from neonates to teenagers. Surgical services include general surgery, orthopedics, otolaryngology, plastics, neurosurgery, urology, and dental. Endoscopy and diagnostic procedures, such as bronchoscopy are also performed.
Pre-Surgery Care:
Pre-Surgery Care includes the Pre-Surgical Care Unit and Pre-op Holding Area, both of which prepare children and families for surgery. The child’s physical, psychological and social needs are matched with our available resources.
Pre-Surgical Care Unit:
Within seven days of the surgery date, children are scheduled for a pre-surgical exam in the Pre-Surgical Care Center. This exam is for any necessary tests/studies required for their surgery and/or for pre-existing medical conditions. The Pre-Surgical Care Center is staffed with Advanced Practice Nurses and Registered Nurses. The Advanced Practice Nurse will perform the physical exam and the Registered Nurse will complete the nursing assessments, provide pre-operative teaching for the child and the parent/caregiver as well as teaching that is specific to the procedure to be performed. The learning needs of both the child and the parent/caregiver are addressed.
Pre-op Holding (Day of Surgery):
The nursing staff begins care the day prior to surgery by contacting the parents/caregivers to inform them of the time to report to the hospital, to receive an update the health status of the child and to tell them where to report. On the day of surgery, further assessments are done, preoperative medications are given and further preparation for surgery is done. The nursing staff provides age appropriate games, videos or books to the patient while waiting for their surgery.
Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU):
The Post Anesthesia Care Unit is comprised of two units with 32-stretcher/bed capacity. Registered Nurses with education in post anesthesia assessment provide care to patients in the immediate postoperative period. The nursing staff continuously monitors and assesses patients during their stay. They also assess the learning needs of the parent/caregiver. Parents/caregivers are united with their child as soon as possible after surgery, giving the nurse the opportunity to provide education on the care of the child going home following recovery or on what to expect for the child being admitted or returned to a nursing unit. The nursing staff works closely with the surgeons and the anesthesia care providers to guide the child safely through the postoperative period.
- We will demonstrate respect for one another by being punctual and prepared every day to care for our patients and their families.
- We will serve the families we care for by reuniting them with their child as soon as medically possible.
- We will accept our given assignments and have a positive and professional attitude towards our patients, families, and fellow staff members.
- We will communicate effectively by listening to each other and supporting each other’s differences.
- We will avoid conflict by discussing our concerns in a professional, non-threatening manner remembering we are a team, and together we can achieve greatness.
- We will honor our peers by celebrating their successes and learning from one another.
Professionalism
As professionals in the Operating Room, we will strive to treat our co-workers with the same kindness and respect that we give to our patients and their families.
- We will do our best to remember the courtesies of PLEASE and THANK YOU to all Associates.
- We will work together without the definitive “It’s not my job”.
- We will assist newcomers in a kind and welcoming manner to help them become proficient in the OR in a timely fashion. We will remember that we were newcomers at one time as well!
- We will be ENCOURAGERS not CRITICIZERS.
- When we have disagreements with one another, we will do our best to resolve the issue with that person. We will not share it with others as gossip. If unable to resolve it, we will seek the help of a conflict advisor, or the OR manager. We will try to understand that each person has a different way of handling stress or problems, which may not necessarily be right or wrong.
- When we see a person in the department (new resident, medical student, sales rep, etc) who may not be familiar with the OR surroundings, we will be assertive in our assistance to them, helping them find where they need to be.
- We will be thoughtful of one another, by not leaving things behind for the next person to pick up or clean up.
Care of Our Patients
Providing the best surgical care to all of our patients is our highest priority.
- We will stay current with the AORN (Association of Operation Room Nurses) Perioperative Standards and Recommended Practices.
- We will be professional and compassionate to our patients and their families and give them assurance that we are knowledgeable in our profession and will provide the best care for them.
