Brand new OR nurses UNITE!!!

Hello all,
I graduate nursing school this Dec. (just a few short weeks away!!!) but have been working as a nurse tech in the OR since Oct of last year. This is a new program for our OR, and myself and one other of my classmates were the first guinea pigs in this new program (we now have a total of 6, 2 from 4th semester, 2 from 3rd semester and 2 brand new 1st semester students). I love the OR and over all it's been a great experience. The way I figure it no matter where you work your always going to have nurses that "eat their young". The OR is no exception and is probably one area where it's more prominent, and with good reason. I remember starting this program and having every single nurse, doc, PA, etc... looking at my name badge and asking me "what are you??" If I have a dime for everytime I've had to explain myself and my position I'd be able to retire!! Luckily after a few months everyone is now used to us and most have gone out of their way to help teach and accomedate us. It's been hectic and scary but looking back over this last year I have learned SO MUCH!!! (not to mention learning when to duck when assisting with a LAVH ). I'd like to hear from others out there about how they got into the OR and the training they received. It's been my experience that most nurses in the OR have been there for years. There seem to be very few "new" nurses in my OR. Is it the same elsewhere??

Your right that there are few "new" nurses to the OR. I have been doing this for 24 years now and would do nothing else! But after being on 96 hours of call and dealing with a whole list of stupid mistakes this weekend I think maybe that dogcatcher job looks pretty good. But seriously folks I do my job well and like it very well. I think less RNs are going into surgery because more hospitals are using Techs in the scrub role and they want to be able to do both but are prevented because of cost savings. I am a firm believer that a complete OR RN is one that can scrub and circulate. I am lucky because I work in an all RN staff. This isn't because we do not want to use Techs, it is because that is the way it has always been. I personally want to hire on 1 or 2 very well trained Techs because we are not recruiting any trained people. I wish everyone out there that is going thru Tech training to soak up all the knowledge you can. I also hope you don't run into that pirhanna known as the "young eater"! I hope you have a good teacher that will give you all their know how. Good luck, Mike

When I refer to a complete OR nurse it is not to take away anything from you. It is very tough especially in a large OR.I have been lucky in alot of ways because when I started out many years ago I thought all RNs scrubbed and circulated and thought Techs were used mainly in OP settings.Things have changed so much over the years. I work 2 different hospitals and see the new hires at one come in and want to do it all. I ask them, when I scrub the Techs out for lunch, when they are going to learn how to scrub and they look at me with dispair and say probably never because the hospital doesn't have a training program to do this. I wish all RNs could learn to scrub but I know this training is going by the wayside and eventually Techs will do it all. I do have a few fellow employees that would rather circulate than scrub and that's OK. I prefer Ortho and Vascular because I love POWER TOOLS, ok I'm a guy, and then I love the intensity that vascular surgery brings. I just like the idea that not only do I know what is going on with the patient and anesthesia and the room in general, I also know what is going on at the OR table and can anticipate what the surgeon might need or get what the scrubber is going to need before they ask for it. I just feel that I have a complete grasp of what is going on in general. I feel lucky. I have been going on some interviews lately and that is one question that I always ask, will I be able to scrub cases. Most of the answers have been yes and I know that most of the hospitals use Techs so I know my days of scrubbing freely is close to an end, so this I except. I wish everyone good luck in their endeavors and Happy Holidays! Mike

What's the difference between scrub and circulating?

You where asking about the difference between circulating and scrubbing. In short it is as follows, the scrub nurse (or tech) is part of the sterile team he/she assists the surgeon with the instruments and everything else needed for the surgery. The circulator is taking care of the patient, things like positioning, keeping the patient as warm as possible etc. He/she provides supplies for the sterile team, like sponges instruments etc. He/she also operates a lot of the machines needed during the surgery. There is a lot more, but this is the short version.
The ciculating role can be a very challenging one, but also a very satisfying. In my hospital as in most Canadian hospitals I get to do both. We have a couple of techs, but mainly RN's. My favourite specialty is Ortho, I am not a man, but do like the powertools. Repairing fractures is so much fun, with all the lovely instrument sets with screws, plates, drills and clamps a handyman's dream.
I can recommend a career in OR nursing, it will never be boring and there will always be something new to learn. It is very nice to be part of the team.

Marijke

i have been an OR nurse for about 10 months. the army has a separate specialty for scrub tech so RNs almost never get to scrub. i have probably scrubbed about 12 cases in my life, mostly ortho (Marijke i love the power tools too, but i'm a man so that's expected, right?) as far as techs not thinking about patients i feel that relates more to experience than training. all training programs are different though. currently at my hospital we teach the clinical component of the army surgical tech school and i am in the process of adding some A&P and patient care classes. techs in the didactic phase have very little anatomy taught to them. how can you do surgery if you don't know anatomy? off my soapbox, sorry about that. i enjoy both scrubbing and circulating, and while you don't have to scrub a lot to be a good circulator, you really do need to understand the job to run the room effectively in my opinion.

I have been an OR nurse since I graduated over 10 years ago....I fell in love with the OR the first time I ever walked into a OR room. But it wasn't easy, the personalities are strong in the OR. and you have to learn to be strong too. some nurses will NOT share hints or any knowledge with the new nurses.
I was at the same hospital forever it seemed, then I got burned out and left to do some traveling. That was the best thing I ever did for myself. I learned new ways of doing the same thing. and I learned that I can do it!! that is go into a new hospital and with very little orientation do a good job.
Now I am back home doing some per diem work with a local agency. I love being back home, but I do miss the excitment of meeting new people.
The hospital that I am at has so many scrub techs that the RN's rarely get to scrub. When I went thru orientation years ago, I had 3 months circulating and 3 months scrubbing orientation. I miss scrubbing, because I feel it makes you a better circulator.

I am not the one that started that man/woman powertool thing,it is as far as I am concerned a non issue. I know plenty of men who absolutely hate powertools.
My personal experience is that a lot of OR RN's love tools, it is the kind of person very often attracted to OR nursing. Having a technical mind helps to make the job easier.

Marijke

Hello newbies!!