Visitor Policy Contacts
For regarding observing in the OR that are not addressed here, please contact Perioperative Education:
Visitor Criteria
All visitors must be one of the following:
- College student enrolled in a healthcare related program
- Medical student
- Nursing student
- Research student / staff participating in related research
- VUMC patient care providers
- Visiting physicians
High School students are not permitted in the Adult or Pediatric Operating Rooms (or the Adult or Pediatric Emergency Departments).
Visitor Requirements
All visitors to the OR must adhere to these established guidelines to ensure patient safety, patient privacy, and visitor safety.
- Vanderbilt employees are required to go through the VOE office for approval to observe anywhere at Vanderbilt
- Employees must complete the application and upload VOE required documentation
- VOE is required to keep their application on file so they can keep track of who is observing and the location
- Employees are also required to wear a separate Observer badge so it is clear that they are not allowed to be helping or doing anything hands-on while there
- All visitors must attend a virtual training class with Perioperative Education prior to observing in the OR
- Once your observation has been approved by VOE, Perioperative Education will schedule your class
- Currently, classes are held every Friday morning
- No last minute class requests will be accommodated, so plan accordingly
- Observations are from the non-sterile perspective
- Other roles, such as non-Vanderbilt undergraduate students, graduate school students, first/second/third year medical students, or working professionals, should visit the VUMC Observational Experience web site and complete the online application.
- When the online application has been approved, the visitor will receive an approval email from Linda Partridge.
High School Students
- High school students cannot observe in the Adult and Pediatric Emergency Departments, Adult and Pediatric ORs, and other areas determined by unit management.
High school students interested in observing other areas at VUMC, click here for the Vanderbilt Observational Experience (VOE) site which outlines requirements.
