[JLynnOR]

I am an OR Nurse of 7 years, love it, wouldn't want anything other specialty within staff nursing (except that I'm in NP school). Love ortho, love fast paced stuff, and scrub pretty much everything but big vascular (working on that one now) or OH.

I've recently joined the staff of a Level I trauma center that earns that designation four times over. They see the ****. I'm wondering if any of you have any tips for, basically, a "Trauma virgin"?

I buddied up with the trauma team yesterday and ended up (was glad for the experience) in a balls-to-the-wall case on a 12 yo patient. Two teams working simultaneously on the head and the belly. I kept my cool and did an awesome job scrubbing the crani but am a little scared of the belly/chest region.

I'm looking for trauma tips or any commiserating RNs/techs out there with comments!

Thanks,
Jenny

[BloodNGuts]

Stay calm, that is the best thing you can do in a trauma situation. If you loose your head and can't think straight you are lost. Just stay calm, remember to breath!

[bifurcated]

trauma........ I LOVED trauma!! It is the place where I really felt challenged and boy did it get my juices flowing! when you are a part of the "Trauma team" you are a member of a true OR team! You all need to be functioning on a high alert level and not everyone understands that level or exceeds in that level. You scrubbed the crani while the belly was being done..... Good for you! You sound like you have what it takes. You just need to build up your confidence in General surgery, vascular and chest. You should be scrubbing on every vascular case, chest case and general belly cases as you can. When I was being trained for the open heart team here, we "had" to scrub every vascular and thoracic case that was sceduled. I was in hog heaven!! Your discomfort only comes from not being sure about what is involved in general,vascular and chest surgery. What kind of instrumentation is used etc. In time you will be so good you will wonder how you could have been nervous.You became efficient in neuro because you did it alot.....so get in on the good stuff and ask beg or whatever to orient to those services. When scrubbing on trauma you have to be "focused" and be thinking as many steps ahead as possible. circulating brings it's own special challenges. PRIORITIZING is key in any aspect of OR life. As the circulator you have the added voices of anesthesia, outside calls, cellsaver, lab,scrub needs etc.it can become very confusing if you are not focused and aware of the important aspects. Keep your patients WARM........keep ahead on sponges and suction needs. Know what is the next most important thing and be sure to move fast and expect to be exhausted! I do not know if your trauma team debriefs after cases... this is a great way to go over the case with the team and find out what you all could have done differently or what you did well and celebrate that. Keep personal notes on things that you want to be able to have a quick reference on. Especially moving into a different service....... my notebook is priceless! Good luck and I hope you learn to love trauma too.

[EricG]

If neuro is easy for you, anything "south" will be surprisingly simple. Running bowel and looking for bleeders isn't much different than an ex-lap s/p perf aside from a bit of increased urgency. You're going to do a great job....

[JLynnOR]

You guys are awesome. Thanks so much for the encouragement and tips.

[Medicine Eagle]

Relax! I love Trauma!!! I'm an ER nurse so a little different. But I can still tell you what everybody had on the first day I walked through the doors into that ER. I was soooo terrified. It did not matter to me how many codes I had worked,etc. I felt completely out-minded. Then I remembered the first rule in a code, Check your own pulse! There is no better place to learn, and keep in mind that those arround you started doing trauma one day just like you! You will find a comfort zone and be fine. It is just overwhelming at first. Actually I hate working Level IIs or IIIs b/c they have no clue what they are doing, and they have that attitude of " would you like fries with that". In trauma you don't get rushed back with a banged up toe b/c you came by ambulance. You go to triage and wait like everyone else. In lower levels they kiss a-- to the point that it is irritating to me now.

Oh well, Good luck. I am sure you will do fine.
TiredBraveHeart

[zuzi]

Yes love that is! Hugs and kisses! in crazy trauma life, yupiiiiiiiiiiiiii!