Should I switch to OR nursing?????HELP!!!!!

Specialties Operating Room

Published

O.K. - I need some advice from those of you working in the OR. I am an RN in my 50's, and been at a desk job for the past six years. Starting to lose brain cells from boredom, and have been considering switching to work in the OR.4_12_3.gif

It seems to me that: the patient is asleep, you're not running to answer call lights non-stop, no family to argue with, you are caring for one patient at a time, etc.

So...what is the real story? Do docs still throw instruments?:chuckle

I'd like to hear your side of what working in the OR is like and (in your opinion) do you think I would be making a serious mistake to consider working there. I know I am the only one who can make the ultimate decision, but I trust you guys to give me some advice. Thanks

thanks armyrn -

think i might be better off checking out facilities myself, rather than through a recruiter, but from what i've seen when i was looking everyone seems to only be interested in already experienced o.r. nurses. hey, if i were younger, might think about the army myself.:chuckle

as it is, may just stay where i am. tired of searching, and thinking that perhaps - if i am unsure to begin with - i may be better off just putting up with butt-numbing boredom. :rotfl: things could be lots worse, right?

Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg.

I am a prenursing student and am not sure of the difference between scrubbing and circulating nurses. Can someone please explain? Thanks! :-D

I am a prenursing student and am not sure of the difference between scrubbing and circulating nurses. Can someone please explain? Thanks! :-D

Scrub nurses actually scrub in (that is, perform a surgical hand scrub, gown and glove) and physically assist the surgeon in performing the operation. A good scrub nurse needs to have knowledge of sterile technique, anatomy, surgical instrumentation, and know the steps of the procedure. At many hospitals (mine included) specially trained technicians are used to fill this role, it is not required to be an RN.

Circulating nurses are not part of the sterile team during surgery, although they are in the operating room. The circulator is responsible for interviewing the patient pre-operatively, assisting with anesthesia administration, positioning the patient for surgery, and ensuring the sterile team members have everything they need. This role is a little more hands-off (most of the time). I like to think of circulating as doing whatever I have to do to ensure the best and smoothest surgery for the patient, as well as making things easy on the rest of the team.

That's pretty simplified, but I hope it answers your question.

Simply put----A 'scrub' is in the sterile field draping, passing instruments to the surgeon, etc. A 'circulator' is the liason between the non-sterile and sterile fields, responsible for patient assessment and overall care. There is, of course, much more to describe about those positions and the knowledge each entails, but hope that helps.

Oops. ARMYRN did a great job and faster.:rotfl:

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