I've just moved from NSW to the NT for grad year and after only being here for a week, my contract start date has been brought forward and I'm told my first rotation is in theatre. I have spent a total of one day on prac in theatre, in a very small hospital, and with about as much related study content through uni, I'm a little paniced.

Being more of the primary health care kinda nurse, and having problems with my health, theatre was the one ward i really didnt want to go to. I'm open to new experiences and I do believe everything happens for a reason. It's just going to be such a steep learning curve. I'm scared for my patients! I'll have no idea what I'm doing in there. If there is any theatre nurses out there, I'd love to hear a bit about what you do. Or other new grads with similar fears. Any advice is always welcome!

I'm not a theatre nurse, in fact I hated my theatre rotation as a student, so I appreciate your apprehension. I think the important thing to bear in mind, though, is that it's a specialised area and they won't expect you to know anything on your first day. You also won't be given any significant responsibility, or allowed to wander around untended. Be vigilant about maintaining sterility in the operating suites, be aware of your surroundngs (so you don't, for example, back into a freshly-scrubbed surgeon), and observe the way more experienced staff work, from technique to how they interact with other staff. Be honest, open to the experience, and remember that if you hate it the rotation will end - it's not forever. That said, you never know - you could just end up loving it!

Hi, I hope you have relaxed a little now that you've started in the OR.

I also started my grad year in the OR and stayed there for 15 yrs.

I've since moved on to other areas of nursing, but I loved my time in the OR.

I hope you have found the staff, surgeons and anaethetists happy to spend time teaching you.

Be open to learning new things, especially as so many things are transferable to other areas. For example airway management & ventilation during your recovery rotation is always transferable to other areas. Asceptic technique is transferable to wound care.

If you are having any concerns please let your grad year coordinator know.