[SandraDeeRN]

Hi Everyone! My name is Sandra and I just joined the site! I have been a nurse for two years in the Pittsburgh area on a med surg floor that specializes in heart failure and stroke patients. I am transferring to the OR in February and I am really excited about the switch. I have my ASN and will be starting at the University of Pittsburgh in the fall for my RN-MSN. I am open to any advice anyone may have for me about being a newbie in the OR! Thanks and Hello again!

[tessa_RN]

Welcome!!!!Some of the advice I can tell you is that it is normal for you to feel overwhelmed when starting in the OR..Everything is totally different than other areas of the hospital..So much equipment and instruments that you have to learn..But it will all come in time....When I first started I thought to myself what in the world and I doing down here..But after getting settled in I love and and wouldnt want to be anywhere else..Also a good thing to do is carry a small notebook with you and take notes about certain docs, set-ups, or anything..It comes in handy..Its hard to remember certain quirks about the docs...and dont be afraid to ask questions...I hope this helps..and again WELCOME!

[bethin]

to Allnurses!

Congrats on furthering your education and getting that OR job!

Good luck to you!

[IsseyM]

Hi Sandra! Welcome to this site. Congrats on making the switch to the OR. Tessa gave you some excellent advice. I've only been in the OR training program for 6 months and still feel overwhelmed, wondering if i'm ever going to get it. Everyone says that it takes time to learn all the instruments, equipment and procedures (atleast a year or two). I ask a ton of questions and i write alot of stuff down. I carry a notebook and write down all the procedures i have done each day and i also have a mini address book for the Surgeons. Another great thing to do is read up on procedures, i admit i am guilty of not doing this. After finishing nursing school, then taking AORN's peri-op class...i am sick of reading. Reading does help a great deal if you're not familiar with the case. Be a team player. If you're not busy ask someone if you could help them open for their next case, gather supplies or equipment, help bring patient into the room, help with positioning/lifting. After cases it can be hard to find lifting help, especially when a patient is obese. Be patient with yourself and know that it is ok to feel like a newbie. In fact a couple of nurses who are in the training with me are feeling exactly like me. They have been nurses for 20 years in ICU and Med-Surg and have told me the OR is a different world and they are not used to feeling like they don't know anything.
Think positive even if you have bad days. I love focusing on one patient at a time. I wish you the best and good luck. Keep us updated.

IsseyM

[SandraDeeRN]

Well I do know most of the surgeons from working on the floor for two years so at least I wont have to learn names and etc. but i will have to learn what they prefer for each case and that really is the only thing I'm nervous about screwing up. Some doc's can be real jerks, especially the surgeons I have noticed.