[elcue]

Marie, I have printed your excellent post to share with students who come to my OR. I get both nursing students and high school students who are in a program for those interested in health care careers. This will be perfect to hand them when they arrive.

Of course, all of these students are interested in the surgery itself, the anatomy. But it's also a great opportunity for us to educate them about the different roles in the OR, particularly the RN as both circulator and scrub nurse.
We all know we could use several thousand more of us so we could all have better schedules, less call, more breaks, fewer vacation restrictions, etc! So I always make sure to give these students my standard presentation on perioperative nursing in hopes of snagging some new recruits to our ranks!
Linda

[ewattsjt]

Good post!

Do not try to help out. Sometimes it seems like there are not enough people helping and you could do something. A small error can be a big one in surgery. We had one student who wanted to help plug in the bovie cord. When it was thrown, it did not make it off the sterile field and that is where she grabbed it from (again stay away from blue). We had to reprep and drape.

We had one student who wanted to get the specimen. She was so excited, she did not wait for me to pass it off the field, and she grabbed it off my back table. When we all said no and you need gloves, she immediately placed it back on my back table. Fortunately we were closing so I worked off the mayo for the rest.

[mercyme128]

I am going to start my last semester of assoc. degree RN in January and hopefully graduate in May 07. I did my first OR rotation this semester and loved it more than any clinical so far. I used to think I wanted to be a L&D nurse until my OR rotation. I am undecided if I should try to go straight into OR or work a while in Med/Surg or another area first for experience. Any suggestions from some experienced nurses in this area would be great.

[smwalker]

This forum is the truly the best thing that could happen to an up and coming future nurse; thanks for all of your suggestions and experiences they are truly enlightening.

smwalker

[Mommy TeleRN]

I'm excited - I've arranged an OR shadow experience next week where I work. I have no clue if it will interest me - but I get to see what this area is all about. It will no longer be some strange mysterious place in the hospital lol. I'll let y'all know how it goes - I'm going to try to remember all of Marie's good tips

[Annabelle07]

I would suggest that if time permits, you call the OR and ask if there is anyone that could give you some tips on rules and regs. and maybe a brief tour before you show up to observe. As for the perfume mentioned in another post, please don't wear it to work!! So many people, patients and staff are allergic/sensitive; it's better saved for your personal special occassions!

[txspadequeen921]

This is good stuff Marie, thanks for posting. I was seriously thinking about OR after graduation (RN).. I would love to be able to observe/precept with you ..you sound like know your stuff...

[crawlyberry]

Hi...Student nurse here...what is the difference between a circulator and a scrub nurse? Are there programs that we can apply to become an OR nurse? I am really intested in this area. Thanks for all the advice and information. Have a wonderful day!:studyowl:

[Crux1024]

Originally Posted by crawlyberry

Hi...Student nurse here...what is the difference between a circulator and a scrub nurse? Are there programs that we can apply to become an OR nurse? I am really intested in this area. Thanks for all the advice and information. Have a wonderful day!:studyowl:

A circulator is the person that checks/assesses the pt in preop, brings them back to the OR, prepares the Pt for surgery, and then stays in the OR through the case to chart and get things the Scrub people may need. A Scrub nurse/surgical tech is the person/people at the field that are scrubbed and sterile and are assisting or have the table of instruments. Facilities usually do have specialized training programs for the OR. Check in with the places in your area.

[Jlopes]

Originally Posted by CRNAhopefulguy

i work in the OR and its always cold, but u get use to it very fast.

i would add, dont bring anything in ur pockets like ur keys, valuables, wallet, money, etc, always keep that locked up in your locker because u dont want to lose it and u dont want to have any metal or anything on you. Also, dont bring your school bag or what not into the OR area unless you are allowed too. this is a sterile temperature controlled and atmosphere controlled area. I will see doctors bringing soda and food into the area, but not into the room. This doesn't mean you can bring your bottle of water or what not with you tho.

If they do let you get dressed in a gown or what not and your in the room and for some reason you are near the sterile environment, you always pass a person back to back because the back of a person is where the germs would be and the front is the sterile area in most cases. for instance, if your sterile and the doctors sterile, you dont walk right by infront of him because your letting your germs brush away onto him or onto his hands. Also always keep your hands up if they let you put gloves on, dont cross them on your chest unless u got a sterile gown on, or dont let them hang down or be below your belt. Im sure you see this on tv all the time where you see them walking around with their hands up like there nuts. same things applys.

when you are wearing eye protection, make sure u get a mask that keeps the steam out of your eye protection glasses because many times people put on a regular mask and when they put their glasses on, they steam up from their breath. there are specific masks that prevent this from happening, and they are usually lined with a plastic on the inside to keep the moisture in.

oh and if it starts to smell for whatever reason, like bile or just some uncontrollably disgusting smell, it will happen lol, the nurses might have some mint stuff to get rid of the smell. i am not quite sure the name of it, but its a mint bottle that u put on your finger and then swipe on your mask and keeps the smell from intoxicating you. if u cant stand the smell, ask if the nurse has some mint for your mask, they usually will kno what u mean.

also when u have perfume and what not, do not spray it all over your scrubs or what not, its nice to smell good, but u dont need to overkill us and especially the patients. many patients are sensitive to things and the last thing we want is your patient breaking out or being anaphylactic because u got some weird perfume or cologne on. you can wear deoderant tho. some cases will ask that u not, but usually it will specify if their an abbi patient.

other than that, have fun.