surgeons preference

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Apr 22, 2011

Hey diva!

I am glad you love the OR so much. I don't understand what you mean...do you mean that you are not comfortable with the staff seeing that you have a fave surgeon that you like to work with? If that is what you mean, what makes you uncomfortable?

Help a sista understand!

diva88s · Apr 22, 2011

sorry hun wrong choice of words and was in a haste when writing this..my issue is really that i want the rest staff members to be more proactive so that they can be complimented also.. :lol2:

ORNurse911 · Apr 24, 2011

Worrying about other people in the OR only brings about more "drama" in the OR in my opinion. You're not the only one this happens to. Every OR I have worked in, usually the same nurses/scrub techs work with the same docs. Sometimes it's not a skill based thing, but more of a personality thing. Some people just get along betters with others.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2011

Ah! I like the way you wish to spread sunshine! Don't worry yourself over this...if the staff want to be more proactive, they will. Just lead by example:)

shodobe · Apr 24, 2011

Even though it is a nice gesture to give a surgeon the scrub they prefer it isn't such a good idea. Why? Well that nurse isn't always there and when they start doing cases on that persons day off what does that do to the confidence to those who have to scrub with this surgeon? Good idea to spread the wealth even though the surgeons fav is available. The surgeon should get use to everyone.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2011

Even though it is a nice gesture to give a surgeon the scrub they prefer it isn't such a good idea. Why? Well that nurse isn't always there and when they start doing cases on that persons day off what does that do to the confidence to those who have to scrub with this surgeon? Good idea to spread the wealth even though the surgeons fav is available. The surgeon should get use to everyone.

I agree to a point. In the many ORs that I have worked in, the most efficient ones were those that implemented teams. For example, there is a rather difficult surgeon that I was asked to work with whenever he was in the OR. Nobody could stand him. He was condescending, irritatingly picky over things that didn't matter, and exploded often. I told him that I was asked to be his primary nurse in the OR and immediately set boundaries. I asked him what his expectations were, and I told him mine. This worked out beautifully. There were a few times when I had to pull his Princess Card, but overall, he calmed down and became more confident (he was a new attending). When I thought that he was ready for other nurses to learn his routine, we paired up and then they were able to take over when I was not there.

Most of the time, cases run much more smoothly if a surgeon works with the same staff consistently. I strongly believe however, that other staff should know a particular surgeon's routine for exactly the reason you stated. I am "married" to another nurse, and when she is off I am working and vice versa. We also plan our vacations opposite of each other. It works out.

shodobe · Apr 24, 2011

Teams are OK until your the person who has gone all day without a break or lunch just so you can make the surgeon happy. If you don't want everyone to know how to scrub with these guys then a few so it can be rotated every once in awhile. You get staff who get upset because they aren't scrubbing with Dr so and so but get upset on the days when they scrub for someone else and don't get their breaks and lunches. You really can't win sometimes.

daVinciNurse · Apr 24, 2011

We try to avoid having the same nurse with the same surgeon every time. We try to keep 2-3 nurses/techs who can rotate in and out of several rooms. This way the surgeon isn't totally dependent on one person. What happens at 3am on call? Or weekends? Or when a nurse is sick? Yes, I have several surgeons who I love to work with, and they tell me they love having me in their room....BUT I also make sure i don't "keep secrets" from other nurses as to what a certain surgeon likes/doesn't like. The more I know and share with others, the better things will be for everyone in the long run. Once had a surgeon walk in the room and tell a brand new resident to get in the habit of looking at the instruments on the table before scrubbing in to make sure he would have what he needed....so the guy asked him "what did you look for on this case" and he said "I saw her (me) scrubbed in and didn't need to look any further. She knows all my requests!" Well I of course was ecstatic to get such a compliment, but then again, I worked with him 2-3x a week for 7 years or so, I better know what he wants! Of course, i also make sure preference cards are updated to help anyone else out. Its all about TEAMwork in the OR...and if I don't know something, I am not at all afraid to ask questions--of other nurses, techs, even the surgeon. Better to ask and be prepared then to be caught without having something/knowing something.

diva88s · Apr 25, 2011

aww thanks guys, the replys are awesome and i soo totally can relate thanks much xoxox:yeah:

LAM2010, BSN · May 8, 2011

in my O.R., the only docs that want certain people scrubbing are the older crabbier (well, we only really have ONE like that) ortho surgeons :) and sometimes it is the circulator who controls those situations - they act like the doc wants certain people, but it's really the circulator who does. it's kind of funny. well, we really only have ONE circulator like that, come to think of it...