http://www.medcomrn.com/ Operating room nurses have the responsibility to establish and maintain the sterility of the operating environment. The need to prevent infection is of paramount importance. Proper training through coursework and video instruction can be beneficial in teaching these necessary methods.

1. Training for Medical Procedures
Many medical career fields such as operating room nurses require specialized training. The student
must first complete a set of courses that qualifies him or her as a registered nurse or RN. After
completing the necessary coursework to achieve the RN certification, the student must attend operating
room nurse training, which allows student nurses to work alongside surgical teams in the operating
room, and to care for patients both before and after operations. Specialized training for this and other
medical career options is often aided by viewing medical procedure videos, like those available from
Medcom. Areas affecting the sterile field and minimizing the risk of infection are of significant
importance to the OR nurse.
Aseptic Nursing Technique in the OR
As every medical professional knows, safeguarding against infection is of paramount importance.
Nowhere is this more critical than in the operating arena. When it comes to post-operative
complications, infection is the number one complication and is often avoidable. In operating room
nurse training, instructors and informational videos will explain how transmission of an infection takes
place, as well as the techniques and workplace practices that nurses should use to prevent or reduce the
occurrence of infection in their patients. Some of these techniques that must be mastered are offered as
videos by Medcom:
● Principles of Sterile Technique
● Surgical Hand Scrub
● Gowning, Gloving, and Surgical Skin Prep
● Creating and Maintaining the Sterile Field
Establish and Maintain a Sterile Field in the OR
The need for a sterile field in the OR cannot be underestimated. Unsanitary conditions elevate the risk
of infection and disease exponentially. The OR nurse is usually tasked with ensuring the operating field
is sterile and ready for use. When planning operating room nurse training, courses and medical
procedure videos on the following topics will prove extremely beneficial:
● The requirements and uses of sterile drapes
● The various types of sterile drapes which may be used
● The ability to identify and use other materials necessary to create a sterile field
● The ability to execute the steps required to prepare the sterile field
● The ability to use both the plastic incision drape and the four-towel method to perform sterile
draping
● The principles and steps needed to maintain the integrity of the sterile field
Gowning, Gloving, and Surgical Skin Prep
Another area that is important in the prevention of infection and the maintenance of the sterile field is
the area of gown, glove, and skin prep. Preventing the transmission of infectious organisms is one of
the major concerns of the OR nurse. Courses and medical procedure videos on the following topics,
such as how to properly prepare the skin, how to put on and take off a gown and facial mask, and how
to put on and remove gloves are instrumental in achieving a sterile work environment, and for

2. protecting the patients and others in the operating environment.
Once these operating room nurse training courses are completed, the OR nurse should be able to
demonstrate skill in explaining the purpose of the surgical gown and how to put it on in such a way as
to maintain sterility; to perform the closed-hand and open-hand gloving techniques, and to assist
another person with their gloving.
Company Bio
Medcom has been producing and distributing quality healthcare education materials for more than 50
years. Their products include printed materials, award-winning educational videos and internet-based
learning systems.