Intraoperative Services
Description of Patient Population
- Approximately 1,350 patients of all ages have surgery per month
- Kentucky Surgery Center (KSC), generally outpatient procedures
- Critical Care Center (CCC), generally inpatient procedures
- Approximately 88% of cases are scheduled, and 12% are emergent or urgent
Number of Beds
- 21 Operating Room Suites
- Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Suite
Special Certification Requirements
- BCLS
- ACLS for RNs in the Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Suite
- CNOR is encouraged but not required for the CCC & KSC intraoperative RNs
Special Programs
- The Perioperative Registered Nurse Internship Program is available for nurses with no previous intraoperative experience. The program is a formalized, structured orientation approximately six months in length. Supervised clinical experience is provided in each of the specialty areas. All direct caregivers receive education and training concerning the specific patient populations with which they will be working, including providing care to various age groups.
- The RN scrub program allows intraoperative RNs with circulating skills the opportunity to learn skills in the scrub role and to demonstrate basic and intermediate scrub competencies. The formal, structured program is approximately 10-12 weeks in length.
- Departmental orientation sessions are offered on an as needed basis. Orientation is individualized based on an employee’s past experiences.
- Weekly inservices are presented to ensure staff knowledge levels and skills.
- Competency check-offs are completed as deemed necessary for specialized equipment or procedures.
Staffing patterns
- Staffing patterns vary in Perioperative Services based on the day of the week, the area of practice, and the needs of the unit.
- Intraoperative care is available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
- Shifts generally are 8-12 hours in length. Additional call teams are available on nights, weekends, and holidays.
