[szccdw]

Just wanted to get some advice from some of the experienced Ortho nurses here on the board about what I should expect working on an Ortho floor? Any tips you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Everyone is scaring me and telling me don't go work in Ortho it will kill me. I'm a little nervous here. Just looking for some pointers. Thanks for any information you can assist me with. I look forward to hearing from you all.

[november551]

You will be constantly running and there is a lot of fluff and puff involved.

The majority of the patients are usually in extreme pain, so it pays to have an open mind to giving a LOT of pain medications. Unlike some other floors where it is easy to be judgemental regarding a patient's pain, ortho is a floor where you need to take a patient's statements about pain very seriously. The only other place I've been to where the patients have worse pain is the oncology floor.

Also you will need to learn a lot of different precautions that need to be observed, there is a lot of equipment that is unique to ortho that you will need to learn to use and explain (CPMs, immobilizers, braces, slings come to mind off the top of my head).

[Blaze RN]

Good luck with your interview ! I worked on an MS Ortho trauma Unit for 11 years and loved every minute of it. It's very rewarding. Just remember to pain medicate your pts before activties and get them moving post-op asap. Most patients will tell you that the pain pre joint replacement was far worse than the pain post op. Ice and elevation too. Most Ortho floor staff members work together with the difficult cases...ie. very heavy individuals. Best of luck!!

[P_RN]

Oh yeah, get used to running out of narcotics in the Pyxis. I have picked up 100 Tylox at a time after the Pyxis ran out and the pharmacist didn't bat an eye. Also keep in mind that these folks have other physical problems that should never be overlooked. Just because they have a total knee they still may have COPD, diabetes, a CVA, Parkinson's etc. Treat the WHOLE patient.

[Colorado1]

Ortho can be a great place to work. I've done it for seven years and love it. You really need to know how to work together on the floor. Get up and help your co-workers whenever you can because there will be plenty of times when you need them too. Manage pain before it gets out of control. Even when my post-ops come up with a PCA I give them oral narcotics to wean them off of it as soon as I can. They do so much better. Pre-medicate for physical therapy. Turn your patients every two hours, even if it's just a little tilt to enhance circulation! Teach them about incentive spirometry/deep breathing, ankle excercises, relaxation techniques, use of overhead frames, body mechanics, etc. There is so much to teach on this floor. It's great. And yes, they are not just ortho patients. They are patients who may have multiple health issues who have had ortho surgery. You really do manage a lot of care but it's fun. These people generally get better and go home. It's nice to be a part of their progress.

[szccdw]

Got the job. Nervous yet excited.

[BClpnGraduate]

HI!! congratulations!

I, too have an interview tomorrow morning in the ortho unit! How are u liking it??
I live in vancouver, b.c. I would like to see if it's worth moving back to Edmonton working in the ortho unit.

few questions,
Is it FULL SCoPE for lpns there?
Where do u work?
How much do LPNS get paid in the ortho unit?
Any tips or suggestions?

ANY ADVICE IS APPRECIATED!!

I'm so nervoussss :S

THANK YOU