A Transducer Holder That Travels Well
A simple way to ensure that the transducer is always at the correct level.
When monitoring hemodynamic pressures during surgery, attach a Clark Socket to the head of the OR table. Secure a small metal rod to the OR table with the Clark Socket. Connect your transducer holder to the rod and level the transducer(s) to the desired point. Then whenever the OR table needs repositioning, the transducer will always be at the correct level throughout the surgical procedure.

Mark Green, CRNA
Springfield Hospital
Springfield, Vt.
[email protected]

No Muss, No Fuss: Stuff Your Gown Into Gloves, Then Toss
We've come up with a way of disposing of isolation gowns and gloves that creates compacted waste and helps reduce risk of infection. By packing your gown into your gloves, you create a tight wad with the contaminated side on the inside.

Here's how to do it: Pull the gown over your head and then turn it inside out as you remove your arms. With your gloves still on, roll the gown into a tight ball, allowing the air to escape. When you have a ball about the size of a softball, hold it in one hand and stretch the cuff of your glove over the ball. Remove your hand from the glove and put it in your other gloved hand. Stretch the glove over the ball in the same way.

Now you have a little ball that you can dispose of in the waste can. You can see a video of the technique on YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaZIZZLiDw). This trick works with large and small gloves. Once you share it with fellow staffers, you'll be surprised how quickly the technique catches on.

Jasper Palmer
Patient Escort
Albert Einstein Medical Center
Philadelphia, Pa.

Reciting the same basic script to 40 topical anesthesia cataract patients a day can get monotonous, so spice it up with humor and witticisms. Be clever and creative. The basics of what you need to tell patients just before they enter the OR: "You'll be going into the procedure room in just a minute. We're going to wash off a little around your (left/right) eye and put a clear plastic drape around it. You'll have plenty of fresh air to breathe. Dr. Brown will be sitting at your (left or right) side. He's going to shine a bright light in your eye. Your eye is numb, nothing will hurt and you'll feel relaxed. He might ask you to look up, down or to the side to keep your eye centered under the microscope light. Just do what he says and you'll be done in about 5 minutes and on your way to breakfast. If you feel like you need to cough, sneeze or clear your throat, just say the word ???stop.' Dr. Brown will know just what to do and you can then go ahead and cough. You won't be the only patient today to say ???stop.' Just because this is a short procedure don't feel that you can hold it in, that's the worst thing you can do because you won't be able to give us any warning."

Jay Horowitz, CRNA
Quality Anesthesia Care Corp.
Sarasota, Fla.
[email protected]

Let Docs Speed-sign
Our medical director is on the move all day. To make sure that he sees and signs all the documents we need him to, I line up everything that needs his attention all the way along the counter, highlighted with adhesive flags, as you can see in the photo. At the beginning of the day, it's H&Ps, lab work reports and consent forms. At the end of the day, it's OR reports and procedure records. (To uphold HIPAA standards, I supervise the process and make sure patients aren't around.) It's the best way to catch his attention, especially since its easy to miss things in stacks, folders or trays. Lined up, it's easier for him to visualize each document, and we can see right away if he missed something.

Amy Fierro, RN, BSN
Delmarva Surgery Center
Elkton, Md.
[email protected]