In Scrubs & In Stitches: Catching an Error

A fun look at working in the OR; in this edition, one nurse catches a mistake before it occurs. View comic text transcript. 

In Scrubs & In Stitches - Transcript

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Lia: Hi Ms. Lauren...my room is done, and I was wondering if I can be in OR 2 to watch the ortho procedure. I haven't seen one in my orientation.

Lauren: Of course, Lia! Ollie is the nurse in that room.

OR 2

Lia: Hey, Ollie. Let me prep the leg for you. I need to practice my prepping skills. 

Lia thought bubble: Hmmm...the skin looks so bare right now. Oh! We don't have any marking.

Lia: Hey Ollie. What laterality are we working on?

Ollie: Right side.

Lia: Are you sure? Would you please check the posting?

Ollie: It should be the right side, but I will check.

Lia: The right hip does not have any marking.

Ollie: Oh gosh. The case does say left, not right.

[After turning the patient]

Dr. Smith: Yeah, the left leg is marked. We almost operated on the wrong leg. It was a good catch. Great job catching that, Lia.

Lia: Thanks Dr. Smith. It took me a while to figure out what was wrong with it.

Dr. Smith: Thanks for the good catch, Lia. Would you please help me get positioning aids and the prep kit? I'll be helping the team position the patient on the right side.

Lia: Sure. I'll be back soon.

Lia: Is it a good time for a time out, Dr. Jee?

Dr. Jee: Yes, but before you start Lia, I just want to acknowledge your good catch. We almost operated on the wrong site. This is why there are important checks that need to be done before we operate. The time out goes through all the important checks before we make an incision. So, great catch Lia, and now you can start.

AORN Resources

AORN members can access:

• Minimizing the Risk of Wrong-Site Surgery - AORN Journal
• Using Performance Improvement to Enhance Time-Out Compliance and Prevent Wrong-Site Surgery - AORN Journal
• Recommendations for standardizing the time-out process - AORN Journal
• Best practices for performing the surgical time out - AORN Journal
• All Team Members Must Participate in the Time Out - AORN Journal
• Tips for Improving the Effectiveness of Time Outs - AORN Journal

If your facility has a subscription to eGuidelines+, you can access:

• Team Communication Guideline | AORN eGuidelines+