Update-On My Own

Specialties Operating Room

Published

My training has lasted close to 7 months. I've rotated through Ortho, Neuro, General, Cysto, Hearts, Vascular and Women. The OR is quite difficult and i've been stressing out alot. I'm trying my best to hang in there but some days i just want to run out of the room and rip my hair out. Seconds feel like an eternity when they're asking for something that is not available in the room or near by. Running and calling out for supplies all the time gets very tiring and frustrating.

Don't get me wrong most days are good or just ok but i am literally still scared to death of being in the room by myself. I get really hot and i start sweating, especially my hands. My stomach gets a knot and then it starts hurting. I don't know how to calm myself down. I can't help it, i get so nervous. I also find that some doctors literally scare the crap out of me or make me really uncomfortable. Am i really gonna feel like this for another year? This is an awful feeling. I have nightmares about work almost every night. What can i do to make this easier on me? Will i eventually become a stronger, more outspoken person by working in the OR? I would really like to stop being the so so quiet, shy type. Thanks.

IsseyM

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Specializes in Surgery.

I know how you feel..I did the same way..I have been out of training on my own now 6 months and I am now starting to get comfortable..There are still times that I get so nervous that I can not stand if..If I am circulating a procedure Ive never done or if I am working midnights and a bad trauma comes in..there are still docs that I am scared of..These are normal feelings IsseyM and they will start to get better and go away..the docs just have to be used to you doing things on your own..One doc I was scared of when I first started and now when I come in on evening shift he requests me to be in his room to circulate..you just have to give it time..everything WILL get better..There are going to be days to where you seem like you forget everything that has been taught to you and where you have to call and ask your charge nurse about things..Its OK....you may have learned to circulate and now you have to learn how to do it on your own..Now I am at the point to where I dont care what I do in the evening..I do a little bit of everything everyday..Like today I did ortho and general..Ive had days to where I have circulated ENT, Neuro, and Open Heart all in one day..But there will be a day come to where everything just clicks and you dont have to think so hard about things..It will come natural it just takes time..I know you may be tired of hearing that it takes time and I know I did but the truth is it does...Good luck on everything and i have no doubt in my mind that you will make a great nurse...

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Thank you so much Tessa for your support. It really helps to share my experiences with people who understand what i'm going through right now. And yes you are right, i have heard many times that it does take time. I absolutely believe this but don't want to. LOL. I don't want it to take time i want to know it all now. Many nurses and scrub techs have told me to be patient with myself. I just think i'm too hard on myself. I've never had a job or career that is so darn challenging. The longest it took me to be comfortable with any of my previous jobs was probably 5-6 months. I usually pick up things right away, i consider myself a fast learner, but the OR makes me feel like i have a learning disability. LOL.

Everyday i hope and pray i'll get an easy case that i have oriented in previously, or a really nice doctor who is very patient and understanding. Today was great day. The doctors i worked with were really nice and polite. I felt comfortable being in their room even though they asked for a couple of things i didn't know of. The only thing that stressed me out was that all of my cases were to follow. So as soon as i took my patient to recovery/finish my paperwork i had to rush & interview my next patient and make sure that my room was ready for the next case. This went on for 5 cases. I was exhausted. Even though i had help with my room turnovers, it was still stressful. I like to have atleast an hour before my next case, so i can have enough time to interview my patient, pick up meds, read my preference card, help my scrub tech open, make sure all the supplies and equipment have been gathered/ready to go. Unfortunately this is rare in my OR. Its really busy.

Even though this is really hard, I know i gotta hang in there. I'm determined to master this Tessa and i'm gonna try my best. Thank you again so much for listening to me, sharing your experiences, and offering your support.

IsseyM

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I can't help it, i get so nervous. I also find that some doctors literally scare the crap out of me

IsseyM

Literally? Yuck!

Seriously, just be tough and take care of yourself. Make sure you exercise at least 3 times a week to blow off some stress. You might even want to consider working part time. It's much easier.

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Literally? Yuck!

Seriously, just be tough and take care of yourself. Make sure you exercise at least 3 times a week to blow off some stress. You might even want to consider working part time. It's much easier.

Hahahaha, okaaaay Mikethern i didn't mean it that way, literally. That would be disgusting. I haven't been taking care of myself lately. I used to work out 5-6 days a week, not anymore. I wish i can motivate myself enough to get back in shape. There is no way i can work part time. The contract i signed is for full time position only. If i go to part time i have to pay back money i owe. I can consider going part time in another year and half, thats when my contract is up.

IsseyM

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Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.

"I like to have atleast an hour before my next case, so i can have enough time to interview my patient, pick up meds, read my preference card, help my scrub tech open, make sure all the supplies and equipment have been gathered/ready to go."

DAAAAANG.... You've had "rare" days where you've had a whole hour to do that stuff!?! I thought 10-15 minutes was GOOD.

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"I like to have atleast an hour before my next case, so i can have enough time to interview my patient, pick up meds, read my preference card, help my scrub tech open, make sure all the supplies and equipment have been gathered/ready to go."

DAAAAANG.... You've had "rare" days where you've had a whole hour to do that stuff!?! I thought 10-15 minutes was GOOD.

Hi TracyB! Oh yah i've actually had some of those "rare" days where i had almost an hour before the next case started, usually if we switch surgeons or rooms. Those days are really nice. Lately i've been getting 4-6 cases a day per 8hr shift, all of them are to follow and all are general or vascular. They expect our turnover times to be less than 20 minutes for general, ideally 10 minutes. I'm not that fast yet but i'm sure i'll get there one day.

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