{"id":175,"date":"2022-11-23T14:17:55","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T14:17:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/perioperative1001.slc-courses.ca\/?p=175"},"modified":"2023-01-17T13:29:16","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T13:29:16","slug":"module-2-a-anesthesia-providers-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/perioperative1001.slc-courses.ca\/?p=175","title":{"rendered":"Module 2: D. Circulating Nurse and Patient Care\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Circulating Nurse and Patient Care <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The circulating nurse must have a good understanding of the following:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. The type of anesthetic being administered such as general anesthesia <\/li>
  2. The required monitoring such as the pulse oximeter <\/li>
  3. The types and location of supplies and equipment required such as for oral airways <\/li>
  4. The type of care and support needed for the patient such as a quiet atmosphere, a translator if there is a language barrier, etc. <\/li>
  5. How to address questions, fears, or concerns. Nurses should communicate these to the surgeon and\/or the anesthesia provider. <\/li>
  6. How to decrease patient anxiety by minimizing distractions, noise, and miscommunication by the OR team.  <\/li>
  7. The expected outcomes and potential complications such as laryngospasm, malignant hyperthermia, etc. <\/li>
  8. How to respond to emergencies and\/or unexpected events. Examples include being immediately available for the anesthetist, knowing the location of the code blue button, and the crash cart, etc. <\/li><\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    (ORNAC, 2021) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Ensuring the Plan of Care <\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    As you learned in the previous modules, the circulating nurse reviews the patient\u2019s hospital record and performs a preoperative assessment to confirm that they are ready for surgery.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When the patient enters the OR, the circulating nurse, in collaboration with the anesthesia provider:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Assists with the patient transfer to the OR bed. <\/li>
    2. Applies monitors such as the pulse oximeter probe, blood pressure cuff, and ECG leads. <\/li>
    3. Ensures the end-tidal CO2 line is attached to the anesthesia machine and is available to be attached after intubation. <\/li>
    4. Ensures the temperature probe is attached to the anesthesia monitor. <\/li>
    5. Monitors the patient\u2019s body temperature (In the first hour, an adult patient loses 0.5\u00b0C to 1.5\u00b0C of body temperature). <\/li>
    6. Checks for intraoperative hypothermia since it is a common complication of surgery under a general anesthetic. <\/li>
    7. Assists with the insertion of the IV. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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      Once a Patient is Anesthetized <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
      1. Depending on the type of surgery, the circulating nurse assists with the insertion of arterial lines or other invasive monitoring devices such as pulmonary artery catheters and central venous catheters which are attached to transducers for continuous monitoring. <\/li>
      2. A urinary catheter may be required to measure urine output. The circulating nurse may prepare and insert the urinary catheter. <\/li>
      3. When positioning the urinary collection bag, it must be easily viewed by the anesthesia provider and below the level of the bladder to allow for flow and prevent bladder distention. <\/li>
      4. Patient positioning for surgery occurs when the anesthetist has finished their interventions. Once the positioning is completed, forced-air warming equipment is applied by the circulating nurse. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        (ORNAC, 2021) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        Anesthesia Medications\u00a0<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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