Karen Casto

At Day Surgery I worked in the Endo/Colonscopy rooms. I aso worked in the OR helping with pain stimulatrs. My two main jobs were working in Pre-Op and Post-op which i really enjoyed.

In Pre-Op I would being the patient back, help them get ready, then take them back to their room until they went back to the Endo room. While in prep-op, I would obtain their history...medications, surgeries etc. I did their IV's as well

If i worked in post-op, I would make sure they weren't sick. I would call their family back to come and be with them. Gave them something to drink. Do their vitals signs every 5 minutes for 20 minutes. Then the Dr would come and speak with them. After that they were allowed to go hom

In the unit where I worked (Patient Access Center) I did Pre-Admission Testing which means I gathered their medical information. I gathered all of the meds they were taking, any cardiac work-up that was needed for the Anesthesiologist to see. Also, i obtained their lab work that their Doctors requested. All of their history was important to gather before they had their procedure..

When they would come in for the actually procedure, I would help them get ready, start their IV's. If they needed a Urine Pregnancy Test, that was done as well

If I was assigned in the office to work, I wouild looke at every chart top make sure everything was in the chart that was needed for the patient's surgery. I also would phone PAt's if the patient didn't come in for their scheduled one

I worked in Open Heart Surgery a RN Circulator. I would help count the instruments to make sure everything the Dr needed was there. I counted needles, surgical clothes all the while i made sure everyone kept sterile technique. After the patient was put on the gurney and was put to sleep the Anesthesiologist, that is when I prepped the patient with appropriate cleanser. Ater a while of being a Circulator, I went from there to being a Second Scrub then was promoted to First Scrub

I worked as a Staff Nurse on 4 South at CAMC Memorial.

The floor was a stop down floor from Open Heart Recovery. When they came, I would assess them from head-to-toe and from front to back. If suspected any wrong i would call the Dr. If blood needed to be administered, I would do it according to the D.'s orders. I helped them with their baths, etc. I started IV's Also, did teaching with my patient's on certain drugs they were not familiar with