I DO MORE THAN JUST COUNT! Tell the World Carrie Bynaker

BACKGROUND  I graduated from Lord Fairfax Community College in May 2009  I have 6 years nursing experience, 4 of which in the operating room  I work as a staff RN and am also the Quality & Patient Safety Coordinator for the surgical services department

INSPIRATION  I chose to submit an article to Sentara RMH Medical Center’s Nurses’ Notes as a means to communicate with other nursing staff  The title I Do More than just Count! is a reflection of frustrations  While in nursing school I had a clinical instructor state “I could never be an OR nurse; I don’t want to be known as a professional counter.”  I have had other nurses ask me “what exactly does an OR nurse do?”  I found it important to explain the role of the circulating and scrub nurse as we all ultimately work together

DETAILS THE CIRCULATING NURSE ROLE INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO:  Pre-operative interview  Physical assessment  Strong attention to detail  Assess the needs of the patient during the surgical procedure  Continual evaluation of the patient’s condition with changes made to the care plan as needed  Ensure the sterile field remains uncompromised and take appropriate action when it does so  Keep the surgical suite clean and organized  Provide support for scrubbed staff including the surgeon and anesthesiologist  Prepare specimens and transport them according to policy  Perform counts of surgical sponges, sharps, and instruments  Follow the patient as needed to the recovery unit

DETAILS THE SCRUB NURSE ROLE INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO:  Setting up the sterile field  Running the sterile table and/or mayo stand(s)  Provide assistance to the surgeon  Anticipate needs  Stay vigilant in regards to counts of sponges, sharps, and instruments  Suture via a subcuticular skin closure (with additional training)

DETAILS OF SUBMISSION  I chose to submit I Do More than just Count! for the month of November  Perioperative nurses’ week was November 8-14  Unfortunately, my article was not chosen for the month of November  The I received cited “multiple submissions” as the reasoning  That same stated I will be published in either December or January

CONCLUSION  I was disappointed to find out I Do More than just Count! was not chosen for November’s issue  I do look forward to answering questions and the buzz it creates when it makes it to print!