heartholder

Latest Activity

1. Would like your opinion

   heartholder replied to stillastudent's topic in Operating Room

   Shevalove, I had a 6 month orientation in the OR. I ended up being mostly a gofer. I felt my orientation lack a lot of basics. That education coorandator is now retired. After my 6 months I was "able to take call". The only good thing was that I was...

2. Would like your opinion

   heartholder replied to stillastudent's topic in Operating Room

   I went straight to the OR out of nursing school. and I don't regret it one bit. but you do lose skills being an OR nurse. I don't do IV's but I think I could with a little practice. I love the OR, and I know I don't ever want to work on the floor. I ...

3. Calling patients down for surgery

   heartholder replied to sharann's topic in Operating Room

   Hey Zoe. we are kindred spirts. I loved your post. you just said it much better than I could. I am short and to the point. Joy

4. Calling patients down for surgery

   heartholder replied to sharann's topic in Operating Room

   where I work an 12 room OR. the circulator in the room calls the floor and pre-ops the patient, then calls the desk and tells the boardrunner when to send. we also have to ask the floor if the patient has special needs. the circulator where I work ha...

5. Do you love nursing?

   heartholder replied to a-rose's topic in General Nursing

   I love what I do. I get frustrated with the hospital politics. I know that there isn't a perfect place to work. being an OR nurse I have comfort zones. surgical specialities that I know better than others. but I don't always get to do what I am comfo...

6. how long have you been at your job?

   heartholder replied to tiger's topic in General Nursing

   12 years here. I am an OR nurse and have been since graduating. 10 years at one hospital, then a year of traveling as open heart OR nurse, now back at first hospital as general/vacsular/GYN/oral/dental/open heart. as well as occasional Orthro and Neu...

7. Comparing Wages in the OR setting

   heartholder replied to dmclung's topic in Operating Room

   we are SEIU service employees international union. and we are trying but that is a good suggestion. if everyone would only stay for 2 hours. they even manditory people on their days off. can you believe that!!! we just voted down the last offer made ...

8. When would you like your surgery to be scheduled?

   heartholder replied to Rottie1's topic in Operating Room

   I have always schedule my elective surgeries as the first case of the day. and I always choose who I want in my room. one of the few perks of being an OR nurse!

9. Can Circulating Nurse Sit?

   heartholder replied to inches's topic in Operating Room

   the circulator can sit, as long as they face the field. I don't sit very often, but when I do, I pull up a prep table with my paper work and face the sterile field. I also put extra suture, laps and whatever I think the scrub may need during the case...

10. Comparing Wages in the OR setting

    heartholder replied to dmclung's topic in Operating Room

    Pj the union at our hosptial is getting better, but the last offer by managment doesn't address mandatory overtime or staffing. and today......at least 3 RNs were mandatoried to work over. I know I was one of them and I am an occasionial nurse. I re...

11. Comparing Wages in the OR setting

    heartholder replied to dmclung's topic in Operating Room

    OH yea Pj....here in the south. wages are LOW. I am a nurse with 11 years experience and at my hospital (which is the only one in East Tennessee) top wages for a RN is a whopping $19.24 /hour with $20 an 8 hour shift call pay. we have voted down the ...

12. Comparing Wages in the OR setting

    heartholder replied to dmclung's topic in Operating Room

    Shevalove, I went into the OR right out of school. The orientation is longer for new graduates now. It was six months for me. it is now a nine month orientation for new grads. and 3 months for nurses with experience. I love the OR and have never work...

13. Have you ever had one of those days were you wish you could just start over again

    heartholder replied to DIPLOMATICRN4HIRE's topic in General Nursing

    Hello Zoe. first you have had a rough day. second been there done that. I had a case once, just a simple CME ok. well the surgeon cuts something he shouldn't have. so we crack the chest and hang about 6 units of PRBC's and open 3 pans of instruments....

14. Question For Or Nurses

    heartholder replied to RJM's topic in Operating Room

    VictoriaG. very well put. Just because the circulator doesn't pass instruments, doesn't mean we aren't important. we are vital to the surgeon. we are the last avocate for the patient. and we are in charge of the room, we have to be able to look ahead...

15. What's up with RNs who refuse to scrub?

    heartholder replied to stevierae's topic in Operating Room

    yes at the present time we have 2 travel techs. No travel RN's here. I did travel myself for a while and I stayed in TN. I went to Nashville and Chattanooga. In Nashville I scrubbed Hearts. In Chattanooga the problem was too many techs and not enough...