What are attitudes towards Perioperative RN's?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey everyone

sorry I'm not posting this in the Perioperative forum, but it gets like one post a month lol, so I thought I'd try here.

I'm interested in becoming a Perioperative RN, and I'm wondering how they are treated. I've heard that a lot of RN's aren't treated with a lot of respect from people above them, how about Perioperative RN's?

Also, for anyone who can answer, I've read online that these type of nurses work in the hospital's surgical bays. Is this true? I've heard they assist in surgery, check OR equipment, but then I've also heard that they look after patients in critical care.

Can someone outline the responlibilites of what they do? I am REALLY intersted in working in the OR, assisting in surgeries and checking equipment, etc.

If anyone could help me out, I'd really appreciate it :)

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In our hospital most surgergies are assisted by scrub techs. Many doctors have their own nurses that assist when the complexity of the surgery warrants. Most surgical nurses in our hospital circulate and work pre-op and PACU.

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sorry, I'm relatively new to some of these terms, what is a scrub tech? Are they nurses who specialize further, past perioperative?

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Scrub techs aren't nurses. They're more like assistants, but they are the ones responsible for the surgical instruments before, during, and after and operation.

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Thanks for the quick replies!

Also, what type of operations do Perioperative RN's perform? Are they basic, or complex, like open heart?

AND, I think i already know the answer but I want to be sure, Perioperative RN's get payed, about the same as an ordinary RN, correct?

Thanks

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YEh, i mean RN's have a pretty standard pay depending on the area or hospital your in. It is a dept like any other that you can transfer in or out of, and like many others requires a little on the job training and orientation. The thing is most of the time you have to live within like 30 min for your on call time so you can get in quickly

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that's good, because I live in a city with a population of only 200,000 so getting around doesn't take too long.

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I'm a new grad and didn't do much in periop, but I'll try my best.

Preop of course, helps ready the patient for the surgery.

Circulating nurses are in the OR bay--they keep track of the paperwork, help get supplies when needed, and can run errands in and out of the room during the surgery.

PACU-post-op are there to get the patient awake and monitor them before admitting or discharge.

I know this is very simplistic. I've never been in a unit during a transplant or open heart, so I can't help you there.

I do know that like most specialties, Periop nurses are in big demand.

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Hmmm, I was under the impression Periop nurses actually assisted in the surgery, but if they prep patients, that's good too

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DMR.... I notice that you are in Canada.... Things could be totally different up there. I would say for the most part cheaper specifically trained scrub techs have taken over the "assist" part of surgery. I was totally disillusioned when I did my OR rotation because I had envisioned the oldtime TV version of OR nurse.... "scalpel......." "scalpel".....LOL

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Specializes in OR,ER,med/surg,SCU.

http://www.ornac.ca/articles/may94-3.htm

I edited this to include this article

This site may be helpful, it is canadian on the role of the peri-op nurse. It appears to be much like the hospital I work at here as a peri-op nurse. I did not read it all, but alot of similarities. Good luck with your decision.

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Specializes in OR,ER,med/surg,SCU.

I am going to try that again

http://www.ornac.ca/articles/mar94-4.htm

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