O.R. Nurse
Sally Muncy, R.N.
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center
Introducing Myself
Dr. Berger has asked me to give a short description of what I do as an Operating Room Nurse so that you will feel that you know me when you come here for your tubal reversal surgery. I am a nurse who accompanies you to the operating room once the preoperative nurses have admitted you and taken care of all your physical as well as emotional needs. I am there for you to make sure that you are comfortable and have no last minute questions or misgivings.
One more time I will check your name on your name band and ask you about allergies and if you have eaten. I will ask you to use the rest room to empty your bladder as Dr. Berger does not use any bladder catheter in your bladder during surgery. I’m not asking these same questions that the other nurses have ask you because I don’t know the answers, but ask them only as one more opportunity to avoid a mistake about something you may have forgotten to mention.
In The Operating Room
In operating room, you will be made comfortable and warm and everything that is being done will be explained to you. I realize this is a little frightening since everyone in the operating room wears a mask, gloves and gown for your protection. This brings up another point about who will be in the operating room with you. As I said I will be at your side the whole time. There will also be an anesthesiologist or anesthetist, a surgical assistant, and a surgical scrub technician (the person who is responsible for all the sterility of the surgical equipment and for seeing that Dr. Berger has the instruments as he needs them when he is concentrating on surgery). The only other person present is Dr. Berger.
For those of you (and there are many) who have a concern for modesty in the operating room, you really have nothing to worry about. After the surgical area is cleansed you are covered from head to toe. There is only about an 8 inch by 3 inch window of skin exposed on your abdomen. Many ladies also come for surgery while having their menstrual period. This also is handled very discreetly. You will keep your underwear and pad on until the last minute and then you can remove them in the bathroom and we will have a pad on the bed for you. I really want to impress upon you that from the time you walk in the front door to when you leave after surgery you will be treated with the utmost respect and dignity.
Once you are settled in the operating room you go off to sleep fairly quickly after being attached to heart monitors and a final safety check being done. One more time every staff person in the room checks your name, allergies, and other important data regarding your health. At this point everyone takes their designated position in the room and like a finely choreographed dance surgery begins. Because of keeping sterility in the room, no one can touch another person so each one has to know exactly what they are doing and where the other four people are.
I am the one who keeps computer records of anything pertinent to your surgery while Dr. Berger dictates in detail. I am also responsible to see that everyone has the sterile equipment, medications, irrigating fluids, or anything else that needs to be brought in to the operating room. And finally I perform, with the scrub technician, a counting of all the instruments and dressings that are used during surgery. This count is also done before you enter the room and two more times. The final count must match exactly. This avoids any concern of a lost instrument or dressing. This is to insure absolute safety.
On To The Recovery Room
When Dr. Berger finishes surgery I will put a small dressing on your abdomen. Surgical time will be recorded and you will soon wake up and move back to your original bed. It is then my pleasure to return you to the recovery room where your nurse will greet you and I will bring your family member in to sit with you.
I just want to assure you once again that you will be in good, safe hands throughout your tubal reversal surgery. Every staff member at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center and Chapel Hill Surgical Center is there to meet your needs and we are honored that you have put your trust, first in Dr. Berger, and then in everyone else who has any part in your care.
June 27th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Sally, this is a wonderful introduction. Thank you. I’m sure it will bring comfort to anyone who wonders what goes on in the OR. It is comforting to know that each and every staff member at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is a highly trained professional who has the patients’ best interests at heart. That is one of the things that makes this the best place for tubal reversal surgery and why women come here from all over the world.
June 27th, 2008 at 7:12 am
I know that this will bring comfort to each and every person that reads this. I know it will hellp answer lots of questions and bring a calmness to those who are wondering what exactly goes on in the operating room. This is just another example of exceptional patient care that is offered by the staff at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Thank you for the very descriptive and informative post, Sally. You give a clear understanding of what patients are to expect during surgery. I hope all our patients take the time to read our blog - especially before they come here for their surgery. If they do, they will definitely feel more comfortable about what they can expect during their experience here.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Thanks Sally. This will help patients understand the role of a circulating nurse and help calm their fears about why and how certain things are done.
June 27th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Sally’s excellent description of her role as an OR nurse should definitely alleviate patient fears about the OR and general anesthesia. Patients at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center are always in capable hands and receive the best possible care.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Thanks so much for the description, Sally! I can’t wait to meet you, and the rest of the staff. I am scheduled on 7/30. Thanks so very much for taking the time to help ease our fears…one would think that after 2 vaginal births and 2 c-sections, there would be nothing left to fear…not the case!
Thanks again, and God Bless.
June 28th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Knowing what to expect the day of tubal reversal surgery is so important to our patients, especially since most travel from other states and countries. Thanks Sally for writing this blog, and for sharing your role at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. I know you will help a lot of women coming for tubal reversal surgery.
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Sally, your very personal description of what to expect is helpful to our patients who are unable to meet us ahead of time. Thanks for the wonderful introduction
July 8th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Great job Sally! This is an excellent description of your role as an OR Nurse. I hope this will ease the anxiety for our patients knowing that you and the other staff members will take very good care of them.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
This is a great step-by-step of what the patient can expect! Sally is great, and she always helps the ladies feel comfortable.
July 11th, 2008 at 4:52 am
thanks sally! it helps a lot from me since i am now a 3rd year student nurse and with that it made me realized how important a nurse must understand its role.
July 17th, 2008 at 12:54 am
I had my TR surgury on 9-6-07 and the nursing staff at Chapel Hill is second to NONE! It’s pure professionalism and compassion at it’s best.
I was treated with the utmost respect and concern - before and after my surgury. The nurse walked me through everything that would happen and what they would be doing and it worked like clock-work. After surgury they monitored me, helped me up and around and kept me until *I* felt well enough to leave - there was no pushing you out the door. I was also told MANY times to call at any point with concern or issues.
Support staff is often over-looked, but the nurses at Chapel Hill really complete this facility. Dr.Berger is a miracle-worker (I know - my TR baby is 2 months old!) and his staff of nurses are the most wonderful group and really complete this wonderful experience!!
YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:39 am
Thanks Sally for such a wonderful, informative piece. If I were a patient I would want one of our nurses to take care of me. Each of you express such a caring, generous attitude that our patients immediately feel comfortable and safe.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Sally is a devoted and caring nurse in the operating room at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center and from her detailed description of her duties, one can see that she cares about the success of the patients’ surgery. She has many years of experience as a registered nurse and is indeed important support at our center. Thanks, Sally, for your detailed information for our patients’ comfort.