I have been an operating room nurse for over 39 years. It is my passion, yet I realize it is the one area that is hidden from the public eye. Nov. 14-20 is OR Nurses Week. It is time to make the public aware of our importance and how every patient deserves a registered nurse for their surgery.
We are the patient’s advocates when they can’t speak for themselves. We provide the safest environment from making sure sterile technique is followed throughout the surgery to assisting surgeons, anesthesia team and surgical technologists. Operating room nurses rely on evidence-based research to continually improve our practice, from improving sterilization with our instruments to positioning the patient during surgery.
It is too hard to describe everything a nurse does in the OR but know we are there to provide the best care to every patient. The OR is ever-changing, from new technology to new surgeries and that is what makes it so exciting. No day is the same and we are faced with new challenges every day. Just understand even though you will never remember us after your surgery we were with you the entire time, providing our best care and knowledge — OR nurses care for you.
— From Rhonda Price
Solon