Today's OR nurse
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1. Only 15% of brain dead patients become organ donors. ⋯ Once the patient has been officially accepted as an organ donor and the consents have been signed, the donor goes through a thorough evaluation involving physician consultations and lab work, and the medical history is reviewed for possible complications. 3. As many as four surgical teams may be involved in organ procurement, and good communication between nurses, physicians, and coordinators is vital to promote successful recovery of donor organs.
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Biography Historical Article
OR nursing 100 years ago: nursing care of President McKinley.
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Intrathecal morphine in an average dose of 0.01 mg/kg was given to 33 patients between ages 11 and 16 years who had spinal arthrodesis for idiopathic scoliosis. The morphine was administered intrathecally as a 10 cc bolus at the conclusion of the arthrodesis, but before closure. The goal was to study safety in terms of respiratory depression and pain relief. ⋯ It may be that the 10 cc bolus injected intrathecally circulates to the brain and ventricles faster than desired, or that factors relating to type of anesthesia or dose need to be considered. Low-dose intrathecal morphine does provide noticeable pain relief in younger patients undergoing spinal fusion. The side effects of nausea and respiratory depression can be managed safely with medication.
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1. Postoperative wound sepsis can double the normal patient hospital stay and significantly add to the cost of hospitalization. ⋯ Hair removal at the surgical site is not the cause of postoperative wound sepsis. Preoperative techniques that remove hair shafts and not epidermal layers are important in managing this problem in the operating room.