The Do’s of patient before Surgery

 Do continue to take scheduled blood pressure or heart medication,

but with no more than one ounce of water unless instructed
otherwise by your physician. Check with your doctor whether you
should take your medication for diabetes, asthma, seizures or acid
reflux.
 Do be sure to check with your doctor about when to discontinue
taking Plavix or any blood thinning medication.
 Do arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home and stay with
you for the first 24 hours after surgery. If you do not have someone
to drive you home, it may be necessary to cancel your surgery.
 Do plan to bring glasses, hearing aids or any appliances your
doctor has asked you to bring.
The Do’s of patient before Surgery
 Do plan to wear loose, comfortable clothing. A shirt that
buttons up the entire front is best. Either wear, or bring,
loose fitting pants that are easy to put on.
 Do remove all jewelry and leave at home. Remove finger
rings if you are having surgery on your arm, hand, or
fingers.
 Do plan to shower or bathe with an antibacterial soap
before your arrival. This can be purchased at most grocery
or drug stores. Please do not use any body lotions, oils or
perfumes on the area where you will be having surgery.
 The Dont’s of patient before
Surgery
 Do not drink alcohol after 6 p.m. the day before surgery.
 Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your
surgery. This includes water, coffee, gum, or mints. If you do, it
may be necessary to cancel your surgery.
 Do not smoke or use chewing tobacco after midnight the night
before your surgery.
 Do not take aspirin, coumadin, or any anti-inflammatory
medications such as ibuprofen, naproxyn, or celebrex. Also, do not
take Vitamin E. If you take these or any other over the-counter
medications regularly, call your doctor to see when and if you
should stop taking them. This includes vitamin supplements.
 The Do’s of a Doctor/nurse in the
Operating Room
 Change in the operating room dressing area, change into hospital-
issued OR scrubs.
 Remove jewelry and put it somewhere secure so you don’t lose it.
 Don’t forget OR footwear or shoe covers should be worn on the OR
dressing area
 Do wear hat/turban and must cover all hair
 When you enter the OR, Do introduce yourself to the circulating
nurse and surgeon. 
 Wear your mask always
 The Dont’s of a Doctor/nurse in the
Operating Room
 Do not wear earrings and necklaces in the OR is a hot topic of
debate, so always check with your facility.
 No shirt should be worn under the scrub top—nothing should be
hanging out from the sleeves or neck.
 Do not bring bags or other personal belongings into the operating
room. It is a clean environment, and bags and other items bring
microorganisms in.
 Non-scrubbed staff should stay at least 12 inches away from the
sterile field at all times. If it’s blue and you’re not scrubbed, it’s not
for you.
 The Dont’s of a Doctor/nurse in the
Operating Room
 Never cross between two sterile fields. For example, if you
need to go to the other side of the room, don’t cut between
the instrument table and the draped OR bed. Always go
completely around.
 Do not turn your back to the sterile field. Always .
 Duties and Responsibilities of
Circulating Nurse
A circulating nurse operates as a go-between for the operating room and
the rest of the hospital. She is not scrubbed in. A circulating nurse does the
initial assessment of the patient as he is wheeled into the operating room
and makes sure that the patient is comfortable. The circulating nurse also
assists the surgeon and scrub nurse as they clean up and prepare for the
surgery. During the surgery, circulating nurses hand packages of supplies
to the scrub nurse as necessary. If something is required from outside of the
room, or if the surgeon needs a message passed on to another staff or
family member, it falls to a circulating nurse.
After the surgery, the circulating nurse counts opened packages and used
supplies, to make sure the numbers add up correctly. This is to ensure that
there were no supplies accidentally left inside the patient during the
surgery.
 Duties and Responsibilities of Scrub
Nurse
 A scrub nurse works in the sanitized area of the surgery. He is
"scrubbed in," putting on sterile masks and clothing before approaching
the surgical station. The scrub nurse hands the surgical tools and other
supplies to the doctor performing the operation. A scrub nurse
maintains the sanitation of the operating area, making sure everything
stays sterile to reduce the likelihood of contamination. Scrub nurses are
also responsible for the care of the surgeon. If her glasses are foggy, or
if she is sweating, the scrub nurse is in charge of taking care of those
problems, allowing the surgeon to continue her work unhindered.
 During the surgery, the scrub nurse is also responsible for monitoring
the health of the patient. This involves keeping track of the patient's
vital signs. If there are potential problems, it is the scrub nurse's job to
alert the doctor.