3rd week of orientation

[babynurse1976]

I am a new nurse in the OR and I love it. I am not here to complain or bring anyone down, just to share my passion for this area of nursing and get good positive advice. I know many of you have been through the orientation process and I feel like I need to take the initiative more to do more things, but I am just feeling out my boundaries and my place in the OR as a circulator. My most burning question is how do I position myself to become a scrub instead of a circulator. It seems as if the hospital I was hired at does not recognize or use RNFA's, PA's and CST's seem to be the scrub people....advice please???

Thanks in advance.

[HeatherB,CST]

CSTs (STs, ORTs, etc) are trained for the scrub role, hired for that purpose, and cost the hospital substantially less than a nurse. I think unfortunately, that as a nurse, you will have a harder time getting your hospital to have you scrub since they have a lower-paid person to fulfill that task. I chose ST over nursing school because I knew I specifically wanted to scrub, but look at it this way. You'll make more than me, you still get to be in the OR, you MIGHT get to scrub occasionally, and you have countless options if you decide to leave the OR. If I get burned out or choose to leave the OR, it would be right back to school for me, I can't just transfer to med-surg etc. with my training/certification. I'm not a nurse. Scrubbing is the "fun" part for sure, but I'll be paying for that with lower pay, less respect, and wayy less career options overall.

Best of luck to you, I know circulating is an overwhelming thing to learn, and it sounds like you are really enjoying it so far.

Take care!

[RN Zeke]

Great response CST.........Been there, done that, and bought that tee shirt. Now I am an ST, RN, just for that reason. Respect doesn't come easy, especially for the "tech's". Now I just might be someone's boss some day that was mine. I allways said, treat everyone with respect from the bottom of the kick bucket up because it could come around and haunt you someday. Many hospitals train their RN's to scrub, which means they must learn the instruments and how to pass them just as we did, how to pull cases, set up and tear down rooms, and how to circulate last but not least. St's would make great mechanics with all the power tool knowledge we have and carpenters too for that matter. Open heart uses the circular saw (got one), rechargable batteries work with many of our tools eliminating the cumbersome, heavy cords, and the need to stretch to the tank or outlet. Yes, I love the or and hope to make a great leader some day.

Bottom line, inquire at the larger teaching hospitals as they just about all train RN's to scrub and circulate as it allows the RN to know what is going on and what instruments and supplies are needed. End results anticipated, case moves along quicker and smoother, patient is under less time, and a quicker turn over time for the room.

[passionate]

I agree--be the best you can be whatever the rung of the ladder you find yourself on. I began as an OR housekeeper, then instrument tech, then SPD, the hospital trained ST, then RN. I paid attention, was eager, loved to learn--doctor's love to teach. Take the opportunity to let your wishes be known. Talk with your supervisor or put it down as a goal on your next upcoming evaluation. In the meantime, be the BEST circulator you can be--your scrubs will love you for it and you as a scrub will help your circulator tremendously. Good luck, have fun!!!

[babynurse1976]

Thank you for all your responses, it seems like if I want to scrub it would be worth it to me to go to the larger hospitals that are willing to teach. In milwaukee, WI there are a couple of choices so I will look into it.....but should I leave so soon after I just got hired? I know I want to cross train but am in a situation where I am building a resume' and have the opportunity to be in a nursing residency program, anyone heard of this? What was your experience with it?