A few questions about OR nursing

[galenanurse]

Hello everyone!

I am wondering if anyone can help me out with a few questions about OR nursing?

I am graduating in May, after batteling cancer during school (1yr post chemo and radiation for cervical cancer). I thought I would go into oncology after surviving CA myself, but I did a rotation in the OR and fell in love!:redbeathe

I am a little nervous about standing all day, how do you fight fatigue? I was thinking ted hose and good shoes??? Do you get used to it, or are there any tricks you recommened to take care of your legs??? I am also worried about becoming faint. I dont get grossed out easily, but what happens if you are scrubbed in and feel faint??? scarrrrry.

And lastly, how do I find an OR internship? I live in illinois and have only found one at Childrens Hospital, hoping to find a few more to increase my chances of getting into a program.

Thank you so much, I so appriciate all comments.

Jen

[ORM-Queen]

Hi-

First off, "Standing" is not something that happens frequently, unless you're in a long, tedious procedure. You need to be in shape if you're considering any aspect of OR. If you're a scrub nurse, you're going to need hand and upper body strength. If you're a circulator, you need to be in good over-all condition because odds are, if the facility is busy at all, you'll be constantly on the go.

Internships, especially in the OR, are not well advertised. You'll find a lot of discrimination towards new grads saying you don't have the assessment skills needed, but take it from someone who went straight to OR from school, it can be done, it will be overwhelming, for say about 2 years! But if it's something you're passionate about you can make it... just remember that you'll be learning so many different fields, between fine-tuning physical assessment, lab interpretation, Anesthetic interactions and impact on physiology, surgical interventions, positioning and impact on anatomy,...I could keep going.

Best suggestion I can make, is look for ANY Surgical position that you can find advertised and send your resume. Our latest new grad we're prepping to become a circulator is just finishing up her "intro" to surgery by starting as a SDS nurse. Keep in mind, "failure" in the OR is not due to being a new grad, cuz I've outlasted more "seasoned" nurses who couldn't cut it... and I'm going on my 9th year in OR...

Good Luck!

[NabiRN, BSN, RN]

I am going through an OR orientation at a Level II trauma center. I've been on the job for about 5 months and have only done a few rotations. Although I have worked in OR for 4 years as a CST at a Level III facility, I am overwhelmed and tired everyday. Good shoes help but you really have to be in good condition. Larger the facility ... the more you have to run.

I do recommend you try both OR and ONC internships. Some hospitals are taking nursing students and teaching them how to scrub. That would be a really good start.