Perioperative Residency...........

Well I am a licensed RN now and start my OR residency in a couple of days and I am thrilled!

Thanks Jeff RN, I started this week, mostly hospital orientation. I have ordered the Alexanders book from AORN and I have joined their membership. My first taste of the OR does not come until next Friday with my preceptor whom I met during my 2nd interview and I really loved her!!! (I do have some knowledge of the OR b/c I was a ST B4 for several years, 14 years ago-I'm dusting the cobwebs off).

We are doing alot of classroom studies which I am OK with but can't wait to get into the OR!! This program "Versant" seems to come highly recommended and is supposed to be a wonder for new grads making the transition into the role of hospital nursing. There were 400 applicants for this residency and only 9 were accepted--yes I feel honored in a very humble way knowing the job market and all. I will keep you posted. I am so excited and have that giddy feeling when I go to work in the mornings!

Thanks again!!

Well 4 weeks into my residency and I am spending most of the time in the OR. I am completely overwhelemed! I am so glad that I have a long orientation because there is no way I could get all this in a few months. It is a very fast paced environment, so much equipment, procedures I have never even heard of, etc. The easiest thing is the paperwork! I have the charting down (except maybe implants) with the equipment being so confusing that I feel almost stupid sometimes. I don't mind the pace at all because I like to stay busy but WOW....they were undraping the patient ready for the stretcher for PACU just when I was ready to start filling out my paperwork!

I have met some nice & helpful people who seem to care about me and my progress and take the time to help then there are others who could care less if I fall flat on my face. I have worked with surgeons who ignore you and look right through you and others who are nice and explain exactly how they like things--they actually understand that I am a newbie and I did not stay up all night memorizing their preference card because I knew they were coming all week. I had a surgeon say to me...."you're a new nurse? And they let you come to work in the OR?" I wanted to say "You're short and bald.....they actually let you operate?" Instead, I just smiled and told him yes what a wonderful opportunity this was for me.

I have only "co-circulated" a few services and look forward to experiencing more, however I think I know which area I would like to concentrate in when I am fully trained. There are many circulators that just do gyn rooms or neuro cases there. Here is a question to anyone that will answer: In your OR are there nurses that seem to concentrate in just one particular area or do they always do everything? I know it is good to be trained in everything, especially for when you have to take call.

So, to sum up, I love the OR, I find it very challenging and I have only come home once so far second guessing myself whether or not I could do it. I think it was the nerves but I will not give up! I know it takes a long time to get this whole OR/circulator nurse down so I will be at this a while.