PLANNING
"Plans are useless, planning is essential"-Dwight Eisenhower

    The everyday goal of any perioperative nurse is to provide quality care to the patients we see. This can be accomplished by planning ahead and being prepared for the day's caseload.

    There are several ways to accomplish this:
     First, review a pick list or preference card to determine which particular supplies, instruments, equipment and positioning devices might be needed for a given procedure.
      Second, obtain a textbook of perioperative nursing to study any procedure with which you may be unfamiliar. This offers insight into the procedure itself as well as details of patient care.
      Third, seek the advice of a more experienced perioperative nurse. Ask that individual questions about patient care and surgeons preferences. Try to perform these three tasks the day before you are assigned to do a case. 
      One other way to prepare is to keep notes every time you participate in a given procedure and refer to those notes as needed.
       By planning ahead the perioperative nurse can be prepared and avoid potential pitfalls, keep things running smoothly and provide quality patient care.

Mike Chamberlain