The Day of Surgery
The day of your surgery has arrived. The staff at Woman’s will help guide you through your journey, beginning as you are admitted to surgery and ending when you are either discharged (for outpatient surgery or same day surgery) or settled comfortably in your room.
On the day you are scheduled to have surgery
- Take another shower with antibacterial soap and put on loose-fitting, freshly washed clothes.
- Do not use any powders, deodorants, oils, lotions or perfumes.
- Do not wear any jewelry or piercings.
- Do not smoke or use tobacco products the morning of surgery.
- Do not eat, drink, or chew anything after your directed time (this includes gum and mints).
- You may brush your teeth, but do not swallow any water or mouthwash.
- Bring ID/driver’s license, insurance card and co-pay or deductible.
- Leave any valuables at home. The rooms are private, but don’t have locked doors or lockers.
- Bring the following items with you if they are needed: (Label with name if applicable): glasses, contacts with case and solution, hearing aids, walkers, canes, personal wheelchairs or dentures, CPAP mask or inhalers.
You must have an adult drive you home or ride with you on public transportation (cab, ride-share or bus) for medical and safety reasons. Children under the age of 14 must be supervised when in the hospital. You may park in parking lot C and use Entrance 1.
For any additional questions regarding your surgery please contact your surgeon’s office.
Report to the main hospital Entrance 1 on the day of your surgery:
- For Woman’s Same Day Surgery, you will be directed down the hall on the first floor to check in at the Same Day Surgery waiting room.
- For Woman’s Surgical Care Unit, take the elevators in the Imaging waiting area to the second floor. Check in at the Surgical Care waiting room.
ALL family members and visitors will be asked to wait in a waiting area until your preparation for surgery is completed.
Your safety is our top priority. As part of the recommended practices for all hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission, we have many safety checks in place to ensure that all members of your surgical team are fully informed of your care plan. As an additional safety measure, we ask that you be a part of this process—this means we will ask you to verify your surgical procedure, and you may be asked the same questions more than once.
Prior to surgery, your nurse will:
- Review your medical history
- Explain the events of the day
- Perform a physical assessment
- Take your vital signs, including blood pressure, pulse and breathing rate
- Start your IV and give any medications ordered by your doctor
- Review some of your exercises
- Explain the pain scale rating of 0 to 10
- Clip the surgical area, if required
Sometimes the surgeon will need to mark specific locations on your skin. If you have markings for your surgery, use special care not to wash them off.
A member of the anesthesia care team will visit you and answer any questions. Tell your anesthesiologist if you have any problems with anesthesia.
Once you are prepared for surgery, you will be taken to the operating room. In the family waiting room, someone from your family may pick up a beeper from the volunteer desk. Once your surgery is finished, your family will be notified by beeper and your doctor will speak with them.
Following your surgery, you will spend some time in the recovery room with our nurses.
What you may experience
- You will be sleepy and may not remember everything.
- The nurse will take your vital signs often and ask you to take deep breaths.
- You will be given medications to ease discomfort or nausea.
- You may have a catheter to drain your bladder, but you may still feel like you need to urinate.
- You may receive oxygen to help you breathe easier. Sometimes you may need to continue the oxygen after going to your hospital room.
- Your family cannot visit you while you are in this area.
- Breast surgery patients may have one or two bulb drains from the breast or underarm area.
When your care team determines that you are ready to leave the recovery room, you will be taken to your own room.
Your room has been furnished with the following items for your comfort
- A nurse call light, located at your bedside to call your nurse or nurse aide for help.
- A TV and telephone. In addition to a range of TV channels, we offer a selection of games, movies, email access and videos on health education, relaxation and information about hospital and patient services.
- A temperature control, so that the air can be adjusted for your comfort. If a family member will be staying with you, they should bring clothing that allows them to be comfortable when the air is set for your comfort level.
- Every room has a fold-down sofa bed for overnight guests.
