Many surgeon routinely use video en...

Many surgeon routinely use video enhancement during surgical acts (eg, gynecologic, ophthalmologic, orthopedic, cardiovascular, thoracic, endoscopic), and this adds another demand to OR nurses' time. Video technology skills are not part of nursing exercise curricula, yet such information has become a vital part of OR nurses' required knowledge. Many promotes become frustrated when they are look fored to operate and troubleshoot video equipment in addition to providing intraoperative patient care.

RECOGNIZING AND

ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM

We were experiencing daily video equipment question s in the surgical suite at the Outpatient Care Center (OCC) at Jewish Hospital in Louisville. Downtime from video equipment failures, technical difficulties, and multiple supplications for a limited number of video units caused scheduling question s Troubleshooting video-imaging problems, audio hookup auxiliary monitors, and microscope connections were everyday adventures Video repairs and adjustments were passed from the same person to another, and no common accepted the challenge of repairing and maintaining the OR's expensive video equipment.

The perioperative promote manager of the OCC addressed this question by hiring a full-time video technician in July 1991 The video technician then cross-trained three ancillary staff members to further increase video efficiency in the OR. Turnover time and video downtime from technical difficulties decreased greatly, surgeons' satisfaction with the video equipment's performance increased, and our caseload of video-enhanced surgical acts rose dramatically. The enthusiasm of the perioperative staff members for the recent video technician and his rapid assimilation into the OR team has been a gauge for success. The OCC perioperative nourish at the breast manager hired a second full-time video technician in 1994

EXPANDING sweeps IN

VIDEO TECHNOLOGY

Video-enhanced surgery is a dynamic, expanding technology; however, the nursing literature contains little information about the use and care of video equipment. The advent of OR video technicians is relatively strange and the development of a piece of work description for video technicians is an ongoing process

We define a video technician as an individual with a communications background who prepares, assembles, and maintains surgical video equipment. Our video technicians work closely with OR staff members to exquisite position, adjust, and service video equipment used in surgery Occasionally, the video technicians assist the biomedical electronics technicians with repairing clinical equipment. The major responsibilities of the OR video technicians are outlined in Table 1 Our video technicians also perform nursing assistant duties similar as obtaining warm blankets, helping induce patients and equipment, and cleaning ORs and equipment.

Table 1

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES OF VIDEO TECHNICIANS

* Recognizes safety issues and demonstrates knowledge of safety standards. Wears safety equipment required by the agency of the Outpatient Care Center (OCC) at Jewish Hospital, Louisville, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines. Operates all equipment safely.

* pursues the OCC's standards of pre-eminence standards of behavior, and standards of professional appearance and bearing Assists in delivering high quality health care services in a professional, compassionate, and courteous manner. venerates the dignity and individuality of each someone who comes in contact with the OCC

* Communicates effectively and courteously with all patients, physicians, employee and visitors. criterions all video equipment for right operation before setting up equipment. settles up and prepares surgical video equipment as determined according to the OR schedule.

* Performs job-related paperwork for adapted department information, accurate record keeping, and interdepartmental and management requirements.

* Cleans and maintains assigned video equipment.

* Maintains rife knowledge of video equipment. Makes recommendations for acquisition of updated equipment.

* nears at least two inservice programs annually to hold fast staff members updated on function and assembly of video equipment.

Video technicians have video equipment expertise further may not have OR experience. Our video technicians required intensive training through the OR educator about aseptic technique and observing and maintaining a sterile field. All our OR staff members assisted with monitoring and mentoring our video technicians, and the video technicians' rapid assimilation of OR knowledge mainly was owing to staff members' helpful suggestions.

It is our philosophy at the OCC that technical expertise is meant to be shared rather than hoarded. To this completion our video technicians have shared their knowledge and expertise with endoscopic unit personnel and the hospital's inpatient OR staff members. We believe that collaboration and extension of technical knowledge enhance patient-centered care.

According to single in kind article, video units cost approximately $28000 If a fluoroscopy unit is added to an endoscopic suite, the costliness rises by $120,000.(1) Several video equipment units easily can richness hundreds of thousands of dollars. The perioperative nurture manager of the OCC believed that hiring professional video technicians would defend our substantial investment in video equipment.