AORN Journal
Volume 88, Issue 3 , Pages 437-442, September 2008

Time Out: An Analysis

  • Kimberly Anne Dillon, RN, BSN, CNOR

      Affiliations

    • Kimberly Anne Dillon, RN, BSN, CNOR, is a staff RN and RN first assistant at Mount Carmel St Ann's Hospital, Westerville, OH.

ABSTRACT 

ENSURING PATIENT SAFETY in the OR includes performing a time out to help prevent wrong site surgery. The circulating nurse, in the role of patient advocate, usually is the OR team member who initiates the time out.

A CORRECTLY PERFORMED TIME OUT includes verifying the correct patient; procedure; site (eg, organ, limb, vertebral level, laterality); surgeon; and position, as well as that proper equipment, instrumentation, and implants are available. Unacceptable time outs can be categorized as borderline, contrary, related, illegitimate, or invented cases.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS should follow the Joint Commission's Universal Protocol and should have tools in place to ensure that patients will undergo correct site surgery. AORN J 88 (September 2008) 437–442. © AORN, Inc, 2008.

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 Editor's note: The Universal Protocol is a trademark of the Joint Commission, Oakbrook Terrace, IL.

PII: S0001-2092(08)00188-9

doi:10.1016/j.aorn.2008.03.003

AORN Journal
Volume 88, Issue 3 , Pages 437-442, September 2008

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