What Are Operating Room Policies & Procedures?

Surgery has always been a risky undertaking. Before the concepts of modern medicine were created after hygienic practices came into existence, patients undergoing surgery often died on the operating table or shortly thereafter. This was mostly due to improper anesthetic procedure, lack of disinfected instruments or a doctor or nurse not functioning at their best. Certain standards of safety and cleanliness have been implemented to make the operating room a safer place for surgeons and patients alike.

Limiting Pathogen Transfer

• Operating rooms have an adjacent OR suite---fully equipped with hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol and all other hygiene-related items---for the surgeons and nurses to change into pre-sterilized gloves and gowns, which helps cut down the amount of bacteria surgeons carry into the operating room with them on their clothing. Even in the most sterilized environment in a hospital, there are potentially lethal bacteria. According to the University of Dusseldorf's website, some operating rooms are separated from the main part of the hospital by the use of airlocks to keep airborne bacteria out.

Personal Hygiene

• All surgeons should have their nails clipped to the skin---no part of the nail should protrude past the fingertip. If a surgeon's hair is long, it should be tied back and kept in a hairnet to avoid hair obstructing vision and getting into the work area. If this happens, there's a chance that contamination could result. Hair carries bacteria, even though the hair itself is dead. Surgeons must wear surgical masks at all times during an operation when a patient is in the operating room. Surgeons also have to wash their hands whenever they replace gloves.

Cleaning Surgical Tools

• Surgical tools, such as scalpels and forceps, are always cleaned before use and whenever switching to a different task. Although one part of the patient might be free of bacteria, if a scalpel has just been used elsewhere, it can bring bacteria from another part of the body. Because of this danger, according to "Berry and Kohn's Operating Room Technique" by Nancymarie Phillips, all instruments should be washed out with warm water and a noncorrosive agent carefully to prevent any type of splashing or aerosol fumes.

Storing Instruments

• Efficiency is another important quality for an operating staff to possess. When performing delicate surgery, it's important to have the correct tool on hand immediately when it's needed. Beside the operating table is a tray lined with sterilized paper. This is where all the necessary instruments used throughout the operation are placed. Whenever the head surgeon calls for a tool, it should be immediately on hand for an assistant or nurse to give without the head surgeon needing to look away from the patient. This is important because looking away from a delicate process can result in a loss of visual focus.

Staff Condition

• Nurses and surgeons should always come to the operating room in their best physical and mental condition. Surgery is complicated and risky enough even when all participants are at their best. If the surgical staff is impaired---due to fatigue, hunger, drug or alcohol influence---their ability to perform suffers. This causes risk to the success of the operation and the patient's life. Following all safety procedures and being in top physical and mental condition helps surgeons do their job most effectively.