Open Forum

Hoping this is an easy one for someone with the correct background. My surgical knowledge is a bit limited.

For those of you that have standardized training/competencies for MAs with relation to an electrocautery, what do you cover?

I imagine it is something like connecting the proper device, perhaps even a device check and ensuring a grounding pad is present when using in monopolar mode. 

Again, this is not one of my areas of expertise, so I am very interested in hearing what others are doing here. 

Hi Scott, 

Elsevier has a nice module on electrocautery. Do you use Elsevier? 

Susanna

Hoping this is an easy one for someone with the correct background. My surgical knowledge is a bit limited.

For those of you that have standardized training/competencies for MAs with relation to an electrocautery, what do you cover?

I imagine it is something like connecting the proper device, perhaps even a device check and ensuring a grounding pad is present when using in monopolar mode. 

Again, this is not one of my areas of expertise, so I am very interested in hearing what others are doing here. 

Hoping this is an easy one for someone with the correct background. My surgical knowledge is a bit limited.

For those of you that have standardized training/competencies for MAs with relation to an electrocautery, what do you cover?

I imagine it is something like connecting the proper device, perhaps even a device check and ensuring a grounding pad is present when using in monopolar mode. 

Again, this is not one of my areas of expertise, so I am very interested in hearing what others are doing here. 

Hi Scott,

AORN in a great resource for electrocautery use. We are lucky in our facility that we have a surgical unit nearby so we actually have the surgical first assist come train us annually. I used to work in surgery so the safety and settings of the unit itself are very particular. Things like removing jewelry, checking to make sure there are no implants/tattoos at the site of pad placement, making sure the monopolar settings are at the lowest setting possible for effective use, as well as making sure you have suction nearby to get rid of plume are very important. 

Hoping this is an easy one for someone with the correct background. My surgical knowledge is a bit limited.

For those of you that have standardized training/competencies for MAs with relation to an electrocautery, what do you cover?

I imagine it is something like connecting the proper device, perhaps even a device check and ensuring a grounding pad is present when using in monopolar mode. 

Again, this is not one of my areas of expertise, so I am very interested in hearing what others are doing here.