Operating Room Photo Tour - Going Home Same Day

Having a procedure done in the operating room, but going home the same day? Click on each step below to see photos of what you can expect.

Arriving at the hospital

Step 1: Enter Children's Hospital using the B entrance off Baseline Road

Outside of the Children's Hospital entrance (B tower)

Step 2: Take the stairs or elevator up to the second floor and follow the signs to Surgical Registration

Hallway to the Surgical Registration area

Registering

Step 3: Enter the surgical registration area and take a number beside the volunteer desk

You'll know you're in the right place when you see the jungle scene.

Step 4: Once your number is called, go up to the registration desk to finish checking in and receive your bracelet

Waiting

Step 5: Have a seat in waiting room B until a nurse comes to get you

The pre-operative area

Step 6: Stand on the scale to get your weight and height checked

Step 7: Go into the interview room to talk about your medical history

Step 8: Get your vitals checked

While in the interview room, the nurse will also check your vitals. This includes:

Checking your oxygen levels with an oximeter clip (it's like a pillow for your finger)
Checking your temperature with a thermometer (you give it a hug under your arm)
Checking your blood pressure with a blood pressure cuff (it gives your arm a tight hug)

Your bed

Step 9: You'll be taken to your bed where you'll wait for the surgeon and anesthesiologist to come check in with you and your family

Step 10: A child life specialist will stop by to talk about your day in more detail and create a coping plan for you

The child life specialist may bring some cool toys and distractions for you, like these:

Step 11: Once it's time, a nurse will roll your bed to the operating room

Some of the operating room doors look like this:

Or this:

Arriving in the operating room

Step 12: Take a look around the operating room

Step 13: Get familiar with all the equipment inside it

This is an anesthesia cart, which is what the anesthesiologist (sleep doctor) uses to give you the medicine you need to fall asleep. It also holds other supplies they need to do their job of keeping you safely asleep for your procedure.

Anesthesia cart

2. To watch your heart rate, they will use three heart monitors stickers. Two stickers will go on your chest and one on your stomach.

3. This is the light the doctors use in the procedure room so that it is extra bright. It helps them see well. You might remember seeing similar lights at your dentist.

Going to sleep

Step 14: It's time to go to sleep! There are two different ways...

One way is with a sleep mask, where you take lots of deep breaths until you fall asleep.

The other way is with an IV. For this, they will put a tight band called a tourniquet around your arm or wrist. This helps your veins pop up.

Then, the nurses will look and feel for a good vein. Once they find a vein they like, the nurses will use a cleaning wipe to get rid of any dirt or germs we cannot see.

Next, they will put in the IV. You may feel a little poke. Sometimes we can use a cream to help take away some or all of the poke feeling.