New hire to the OR

blkbelt3dg · Nov 27, 2014

Thanks for you posts Rose_Queen! I learn something from you everytime!

blkbelt3dg · Nov 27, 2014

FeMaMaFutureRN - I came from Ft. Huachuca area so if you are going to be near there I can tell you what's around there if you need any information

What a small world. My brother lived in Sierra Vista for about 8 years back in 1984-1992. It's a neat place but not a lot of jobs. How are you liking Wisconsin? I lived in Illinois for 11 years and moved to Florida to get warmer!

MeiLana · Nov 28, 2014

I'm also a new grad and was just hired into the OR.

We were going to start sooner, but I think they put it off for a few extra weeks to get through the holidays.

I'm also interested in knowing what to expect the first day? What to bring in a bag (I figure it's meant to stay in the locker room, right??)

Another question I have is whether I should send a thank you card for the hire...? From the time I got the news until we start will be nearly 7 weeks. I sent a thank you card for the interview.

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 28, 2014

I'm also interested in knowing what to expect the first day?

Typically, the first day is primarily observation with not too much hands on. It may include classroom time if your orientation is structured with both clinical and classroom time. You may also be required to spend time reading policies. Even when I changed specialty teams, I had to familiarize myself with policies specific to that specialty. The best bet would be to ask the unit educator what to expect.

What to bring in a bag (I figure it's meant to stay in the locker room, right??)

What I bring to work with me every day:

1. Pager (not all OR staff will have one; in ours, it limited to my particular specialty and CRNAs); provides a backup way to find me either when on call or picking up a patient in the ICU when information needs to be passed along

2. ID badge (locked unit, need it to get through the door plus clock in to get paid)

3. Bagged lunch, because the cafeteria is just not appetizing.

4. Wallet, so that I have my driver's license and debit card for when I stop at the grocery store after work.

What I keep in my locker:

1. OR dedicated shoes. They went from the box into the OR, with the expectation that the only way they will leave is in the trash when they need replaced. My facility allows those who have OR dedicated shoes to skip the shoe covers.

2. Pens. I buy in bulk, because it seems like many of my pens over the years have disappeared with surgeons. Less likely now that we have EMR, but I still have quite the supply.

3. A little notebook (pocket sized) that has notes about certain surgeon peculiarities that aren't found on the preference cards, a list of handy phone numbers (blood bank, lab, x-ray, etc), and procedures for things like ordering a type and cross, ordering blood products, ordering VAC dressing supplies,or other things that might not be done frequently so that I don't have to constantly get someone to help. I don't carry this as much as I used to because most of it is now ingrained in my brain.

4. Gum. Like my pens, I buy it in bulk. It disappears quickly because everyone knows I have it.

What I don't bring to work every day:

1. A big bag of stuff I will never use at work, such as a stethoscope or textbooks. I did keep those provided during orientation in my locker, but they were returned at the end of the orientation program (Periop 101, which required use of Alexander's Care of the Patient in Surgery and the AORN Recommended Practices)

2. Jewelry. Both because it's an infection risk and just because I don't normally wear it. Plus, if you wear rings in but take them off to scrub, there's always the possibility of losing them. Ask the surgeon who's on wedding band #4 in 3 years how well that goes over.

Another question I have is whether I should send a thank you card for the hire...? From the time I got the news until we start will be nearly 7 weeks. I sent a thank you card for the interview.

Honestly, that seems like a bit of overkill.

MeiLana · Nov 28, 2014

Thank you for the feedback. I was told the orientation would be 6-9 months and would include preceptor, classroom, "clinical" (

Also, are there any studying or tips or textbooks I could review ahead of time to begin preparing?? I have this really (ok, this bit is probably overkill, too) fear that I'm going to get a pop quiz or something, like one of my clinical instructors like to do. Also (again, view ye my brain with too much to do) I've been told the job is physically demanding (from folks who are NOT OR nurses....) so I've upped my work-out. How demanding is it?? I mean -- I made it through clinicals without a problem and I've done other nursing work without a problem, but now I'm wondering if this is something to truly be concerned about.

I'm ridiculously excited. I was always told new grads couldn't get into OR. My last clinical made a big deal of how they made an exception for the ONE NEW GRAD in the last 5 years that they took into the program. I really appreciate all the information!

--Mei

schnookimz · Nov 28, 2014

I wouldn't say it's any more physically demanding than any other nursing job.

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 28, 2014

Thank you for the feedback. I was told the orientation would be 6-9 months and would include preceptor, classroom, "clinical" (
You can check out AORN's Perop 101 info here:
Periop 101 : Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
Many facilities will adapt as necessary, such as when and how much time per day is spent in the classroom. Clinical in the orientation sense just refers to the time spent in the OR instead of in a classroom.
Also, are there any studying or tips or textbooks I could review ahead of time to begin preparing?? I have this really (ok, this bit is probably overkill, too) fear that I'm going to get a pop quiz or something, like one of my clinical instructors like to do.
Pop quizzes are unlikely, unless it's one of the techniques your facility uses. There is a test at the completion of the Periop 101 course. The two books for the course may be provided by the facility, so I wouldn't run out and buy any since they are quite pricy. However, you may find articles and other education on AORN's website helpful (some requires membership to view; I don't recommend purchasing that right now because the first year will be included with Periop 101). -Shameless plug for AORN membership- If you think that OR nursing is something you will do for many, many years, go for the lifetime membership if you can afford it. At $125/per year or a lifetime membership for $1,000, if you work as an OR nurse and find value in AORN, paying annual dues for 8 years is the same cost of the lifetime membership. Had I not gotten that when I did, I would have paid well over that $1,000.
Also (again, view ye my brain with too much to do) I've been told the job is physically demanding (from folks who are NOT OR nurses....) so I've upped my work-out. How demanding is it?? I mean -- I made it through clinicals without a problem and I've done other nursing work without a problem, but now I'm wondering if this is something to truly be concerned about.
Honestly, the most physical part of my job is the occasional running for supplies. If your position includes scrubbing, then yes, it can get a little physical- contorting your body into various positions to help hold retractors while staying out of the surgeon's way, standing for long times, etc. Most of your patients should be able to move themselves to the OR bed before surgery, but it's up to you and your team to move them afterwards when they're too out of it to do it themselves. Depending on how your unit is staffed and if people actually help, yes, moving can be a little physical. My facility is good in that we always have 4 people minimum to move, more for flipping to prone and for bariatric patients. 4 is the recommended minimum for safety- one for head, one for feet, and one on each side. We've had some patients where it was one per leg, one for head, and 2-3 per side.
I'm ridiculously excited. I was always told new grads couldn't get into OR. My last clinical made a big deal of how they made an exception for the ONE NEW GRAD in the last 5 years that they took into the program.
This is going to vary depending on the needs of the facility and their policies. I interviewed at 2 hospitals plus connected with a 3 at a school job fair. The reason I chose not to interview at the third was because they required all new grads to work med/surg. Recently, my facility was really hurting for nurses. Although we traditionally have hired a handful of new grads into the OR, we took a really big group this time. I started in the OR as a new grad (mumble mumble) years ago.
I really appreciate all the information!
--Mei
You're welcome! Glad you found it helpful.