Role of the Registered Nurse in the Operating Room - Research Paper Example

However, most hospitals have hired technical nurse because of high professional fee for registered nurses. As part of the cost cutting program, the companies resort to scrub nurse that has technical skills in handling instruments. This paper aims to discuss the role of registered nurse in the operating room. The role of nurses is examined in the three phases of operating procedure: preoperative, intra-operative, and postoperative. “Preoperative Role” Patients should receive an efficient and effective service from the health sector.

That is why, the health care devises patient empowerment during the preoperative phase (Bramhall, 2002). The preoperative role of nurses involves the assessment of patient’s welfare. Nurses are responsible in preparing the psychological aspect of the patient for the scheduled operation. In order to perform this process, McGarvey, Chambers, and Boore (2000) assert that interpersonal communication is necessary. They gather information from the patient such as medical history, drug used in preparation for the surgery, and the willingness of patients to undergo a surgical operation.

The information gathered are used to mitigate risks and determine the factors that may affect the patient’s health. Moreover, the patient is informed of the proposed treatment that the surgeon will perform on the scheduled surgery. The open communication is inhibited because the nurses explain the risk or the possible outcome of the operation, then they offer other methods to patients. The patients must agree with the procedure as part of preparing themselves psychologically. Thus, the nurses are not only rendering their professional service, but they involve personal care.

“Intra-operative Role” During the operation, the patients are at the most critical level because a single mistake will lead to complications. Since the advocate of the medical society is to give efficient and high quality of service, the staff, including the surgeon, must be careful in using the medical equipments and instruments. Allen (2000, p. 1038) states that RN has the duty to “prevent patient injuries, pressure ulcers, nerve damage, and burns, and to reduce transmission of infection.

” To prevent injuries, McEwen (1996, p.1059) proposes that nurses should be knowledgeable in anatomy, since the skin is the “primary body affected by pressure injuries.” Thus, the nurses are responsible for positioning the patient in the operating table safely to avoid problems and generate positive outcome. During the operation, the nurses examine the physical condition of patients such as their vital statistics. Moreover, they check and assure the medical team that the surgical equipments used are sterile to avoid infection.

Infection can be the cause of the patient’s death; hence, the reputation of the institution is tarnished. The preoperative nurses must be cautious to maintain asepsis or free from contamination. “Postoperative Role” After the operation, patients should be admitted in a recovery area wherein they will be monitored. This is seconded by Stephens and Boaler (1977) that patients must be inspected regularly and precisely. This is to ensure that the patient has a “safe recovery from anesthesia and surgery” (McGarvey, Chambers, & Boore, 2000, p. 1097). The nurses will examine the physiological state of a patient including the circulation of blood and respiratory function.

Once they are awake, the nurses provide information or educate patients about the surgery. The