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Fundamentals of Operating Room Skills

Fundamental operating room skills must be carefully and consistently applied in order to assure a safe and ever ready medical environment. Operating room specialists, usually the circulator and the scrub, utilize their skills and coordinate their activities throughout a surgical procedure. Specialists provide assistance to operating surgeons, doctors and nurses by constantly supplying and retrieving items such as sponges, needles and instruments, as needed. In serious medical emergencies, the application of these skills in--addition to several other fundamental skills--could mean the difference between success and failure.

  1. Dress in Appropriate Attire

    • The operating room specialist must always wear the appropriate attire in order to avoid possible contamination. A surgical hat and mask as well as a scrub suit must be worn at all times. The surgical hat prevents hair from falling onto instruments and into the patient's wounds. The surgical mask prevents germs from escaping into the atmosphere and affecting both the patient and staff. Without such protection, individuals can fall prey to such diseases as hepatitis B virus (HBV).

    Sterilize Operation Room

    • Sterilization is a top priority for an operation room. After washing his own hands, an operating room specialist must perform a systematic cleaning of every object. This involves damp dusting furniture and other facilities with a disinfectant solution. In the process of sterilization, an operating room specialist must start from the tallest cabinet to the shortest tables. This method helps airborne microorganism become settled. In addition, the specialist must wet vacuum the entire floor, arranging the furniture during the process.

    Setup Operation Room Equipment

    • All operation equipment must not only work properly but also be stabilized and positioned for the patients in order to avoid wasted time in a life and death emergency situation. This means the room technician must check and prepare the overhead lights, the operating table and the suction machine for proper functioning. In addition, the cabinets must be checked for adequate supplies. If supplies are low, the cabinet must be restocked in time to meet the demands of emergencies. Usually operation specialists will seek to have prior knowledge of upcoming surgeries.

    Prepare Operating Instruments and Supplies

    • Access to surgical instruments and supplies must be at hand for doctors and nurses performing surgeries. This includes preparing the operating table with all of the necessary cutting, dissecting and stitching instruments as well as sponges and needles. The absence of these supplies when needed could prove fatal to the patient undergoing surgery. Therefore, the operating room technician must be well aware of scheduled operations in order to meet the demands of this critical activity.

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