Pre-op interview help!

Specialties Operating Room

Published

I am a new grad that is working in the OR. I was a scrub tech before so I am very comfortable in the OR setting. However, I am having some issues with the pre-op interview, I am getting all the points across, but I am feeling shy and the poor patients always catch on that I am nervous. I always say that I am a new grad and I usually have my preceptor with me who helps out when I need it, but I was wondering if anyone has any tips to help me get over my nervousness. Yes, I am new(fresh out of school) but I feel like I need to be on top of my game, since they did hire me(and I worked as a scrub tech at this hospital). I know I am being hard on myself, but the pre-op interview has me a little bit tongue tied! Thanks in advance!

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Specializes in OR.

The job you have is to set the patient @ ease, so redirect your focus from yourself & your position to the patient.

Think about it, the majority of patients coming for surgery are very nervous.

You are their connection. You are going to help them through this process..

So... memorize all of the questions that you need to ask pre op and always keep the same format so that you are not missing some of the questions.

EG. review patient chart before meeting with patient, check the slate etc. first.

When meeting the patient, you will first introduce yourself, then ask to look @ their ID band, then ask them their name, birth date, allergies etc. you will cover all of the pre-op questions you have to ask. ( A reminder that this should all be done in a private setting)

When you are through with your questions, ask the patient if he/she is comfortable, did you need to use the washroom one more time?

Did you have a chance to talk to your physician pre-op? Have all of your questions been answered? ( I am talking about elective surgical cases here) If the surgery is life & limb, of course your focus will be on all of the safety aspects of getting the patient into the theatre ASAP.

Just remember that the patient wants the security of someone who is calm, relaxed, and friendly, as well as someone who is confident. The patient usually would not be thinking about you as much as they would be themselves in this situation.

You are new @ this aspect of the job but you have a good understanding of the surgical process so you can put the patient @ ease, and this is part of your job.

Because you are asking the question, I know that you will soon be "over" this difficult aspect of checking the patient in for surgery.

All the best!

BOXRLUVR:twocents:

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Specializes in OR.

I agree, memorizing all of the questions you need to ask in the interview makes life so much easier, and when you have it all down, you will appear more confident. Make yourself a list in the order you would find easiest to go through the questions and practice it on your preceptor. Then you can get some feedback on what worked well and the areas that you need to strengthen. When I was new, I also really struggled with the interview. I was constantly looking at the sheet of paper in front of me to see what I had to ask next, and it took me so much longer than it does now. I tend to be a little on the shy side anyway, but now that I am very familiar with my job duties and I am comfortable with what I'm doing, nobody would ever know.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

This may be from left field to you but I will tell you what helped me. I am also a new grad and have recently finished our hospitals new grad program. In our program we had the hospital's psych nurse lecture for us and she told us a story of a pt she was with and for some reason when she left his room she felt horribly anxious. Well this would happen to me with some pts. I would enter the room and feel so nervous and anxious and forget all of the questions I was going to ask them during the pre-op interview. The psych nurse then explained that mirror neurons had something to do with her picking up her pt's anxiety and making her feel it too.

This makes sense to me because sometimes I go in the room and am completely comfortable and have no problems interviewing, and sometimes I am so anxious I get all jittery. So basically I think that I am picking up on the pts/family's anxiety even if they are trying their hardest to not show it.

So, now I just go into the room somewhat assuming all pts are scared as heck and it helps me calm myself down to help calm them down. I talk to them in a calm manor and don't talk really fast. It might sound weird but it really helped me!

http://www.copperwiki.org/index.php?title=Mirror_neuron

http://blog.ted.com/2010/01/04/the_neurons_tha/

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Specializes in OR.

Don't tell them you're a new grad. If they ask, it's fine to be honest. And for heaven's sake, never say, "well I've never seen this surgery before"....or "worked with this surgeon". If they ask you a question you don't know the answer to, tell them you'll get back to them, or if its regarding recovery or surgery specifics, tell them "that's a question for your surgeon, would you like to speak with him?" You have a very important role when it comes to decreasing the patient's anxiety preoperatively. Always tell the patient you will be in charge of making sure everything is done safely. You can usually get a feel for what is making the patient nervous, and address that issue.

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Thank you for all your replies, it has been very helpful and insightful. I was able to go through an entire interview without resorting to my notes today. I still feel anxious going in and interviewing the pts, but it is getting better. I am getting smoother with the interview questions. This definatly has been a learning experence, and the most difficult part for me... the OR is my comfort zone :D

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