New grad in the OR

Cyan8181 · Jun 15, 2011

Acclimating to a new area is always tough, but I'm sorry it's so hard going. Does your OR have a formal periop program? How long is the average orientation? How long have you been there? Do you have any sort of schedule that tells you how long you'll be working with different people?

I'm sure this goes without saying, but are you acting interested? And that means in what everyone is doing, including the orderlies (that's what they're called at my hospital), patient transporters, etc. I'm sure that you don't let support staff think you only care about learning 'nurse-y stuff' and that their work isn't important to you, but maybe they don't see that, so verbalize it. The orderlies/support staff where I work always go above and beyond for me because I go always go above and beyond for them. Good luck!

sassy_pants · Jun 19, 2011

I'm in the same boat. First I volunteered at a surgicenter for like a month then I got a job in the OR as a Circulator. We don't have a periop training program so I'm kinda on my own also. My "trainer" literally only trained me for 3 days and lost interest after that. At first, everybody was less than thrilled that there was a new grad in the way but once they saw that I showed initiative and was there to kick butt they accepted me. The first couple months are tough but don't let them get to you. They're probably just feeling you out.

Here's some things that helped me:

Carry around a little notebook to write things down.

Make a binder with the preference cards and your notes (I separated mine by Dr)

Ask questions if you're not sure about something

Don't be afraid to jump in and help out

Don't forget you are part of the team and nobody is gonna let you sink

Take a perioperative course. Theyre hard to find but they are out there

Buy the Alexander and Perioperative Standards book- study a lot

Ask some of the doctors if you can scrub so you can learn how to do the cases

Pull the cases so you learn what things you need for the cases and where things are located

It just takes a bit of time but you'll get there. I've only been at my job for a little over 3 months and things are very different from when I first started. I have my good days and bad days but it's a process and I love every minute of it.

Hope this helps! Good luck! If you have any questions or anything just let me know.

Freedomsong, NP · Jun 19, 2011

Hang in there. I understand how you feel as I am a new nurse also. I am on my 3rd week of orientation in the ICU and I love it. I have been with about 3 different nurses so far due to patient census issues but all have been nice and very helpful. The past week I've been with my original preceptor. It's just hard being new and unsure. Even though everyone seems pretty nice, there are days when I feel like I'm just in the way but I always try to remind myself that they were new once and it just takes time. I wish you the best and I hope things get better for you. I can say that I've learned something every shift and I always study at home, this helps.:)

dontcallmeamurse · Jun 20, 2011

hey..i'm in the exact same boat as you. i feel as though i'm still trying to fit in. it's been 7 weeks. i'm a new grad rn..i thought i would be a perfect fit in the OR but i feel like it's a difficult adjustment period. i feel slow or like things just don't seem to be clicking for me. I take notes and stuff everyday but it gets so fast paced that i feel like i am going to crash under pressure. I even shake and I try not to but people seem to notice it easily. I don't know about any of you but i do get this gut feeling that the other staff thinks i am incompetent. I'm starting to question whether or not i should have tried med-surge before the OR since it is all so very quick on how things move.

Rylee2008, ASN, RN · Jun 21, 2011

Sorry to hear this. When I trained in the OR I had a preceptor for 6 months who I pretty much just followed and then she followed me. I did have the advantage of having a surg. tech degree first which helped a lot. Hang in there, the OR can be a cold place, but once you build trust with the providers, CRNAs and other nurses things usually get better. Everyone was in your position at one point and sometimes they forget it. Good luck.

insa · Jun 22, 2011

I am in the same position. Even with the benefit of a formal training program, it's tough being a new nurse in the OR, and I rather sense that I am already seen as "the slow one" in comparison to the other new nurse hired with me.

To some extent, showing a willingness to mop floors and take out the trash, especially as the circulator, who is on the hook for a quick turnover, is going to help. On the other hand, keep in mind that you are expected to delegate appropriately - if you need to get on with something else, you need to figure out the right way to tell one of the orderlies that the room needs to be turned over.

Other than that, I've found it helps to talk to as many people as you can - strike up those conversations in the break room, even if it doesn't come naturally. If people ask about how it's going, tell them about something that went well for you recently, then think of something that didn't go as well and ask that person how they would have dealt with that situation. That's the best way I can think of to show that you're getting it (even if, like me, it may be coming slowly) and that you're eager to learn.

ORTech2RN · Aug 1, 2011

Oh boy, do I know how tough it is to break into a new department. I was new to the OR 11 years ago as a Surgery Tech. I felt like a fish out of water, incompetent, the odd person out. I dreaded going in to work every day. It took me about four or five months to feel like I was building some skills and respect among the staff. Through the years, I've seen many new RN's in the OR. All feel overwhelmed and lost. And that's perfectly normal. I think it takes months, maybe a year before you feel part of the crew. Also, the surgery staff will become some of your closest work mates you'll ever have. However, it's like a rite of passage to be stand offish to newbies. Honestly, you just have to plug away and keep your head up. If it's any consolation, I switched to ER once I graduated nursing school and passed boards. So I'm going through the struggles myself.

ctersi01 · Aug 2, 2011

I know many will disagree with me, but I think the OR should only hire experienced nurses. My time doing other nursing prior to the OR was invaluable. Plus, the cost and time to train a nurse in the OR is huge. How many times do new grads come to the OR, go through the training, then realize they want more patient interaction? If they had the opportunity to be a floor nurse first, they would realize what a great gig the OR is and never want to go to the floor.

Just my :twocents:

thunderrain · Sep 4, 2015

God, I ended up in the OR by mistake (haha that's what I say since I always said I would NEVER do OR and here I am...). I have only been training for a week and by reading your comment I felt that you just described me! It sucks to feel that way, but it feels good to know I'm not the only one. I guess it just takes time... (assuming I don't get fired! lol). Good luck girl!