A Good First Impression

About 20 yrs ago I started my first nursing job in the OR at a large university hospital. It was an orientation of two yrs with 12 specialty areas. I left nursing for 12 yrs and have returned and am back in the operating room in a foreign country and I had alot of learning to do (always learning ). It is important that you keep alert and attentive to everyone in the OR and what is going on. I am circulating and I try to listen to what the surgeon is saying and keeping attentive to where he is in the surgery to be able to help out the scrub nurse as quickly as possible. Eyes and ears open to the monitors and what the anesthesiologist might need. I have been at this busy caotic job for three yrs now and love it even with ALL the stress that goes along with it. Be thoughtful, polite and humble. If in doubt to what is said always repeat to conferm. In a large hospital, there will be many different personalities and it will be difficult to get along with them all so just do your job in the most careful, attentive and thorough fashion. Remember number one priority is the patient. Good luck!

I agree with what Akor has said. You will be amazed at how much new stuff comes at you. Accept the fact that you simply can't absorb it all at once. It's like trying to drink out of a fire hose! Nobody should expect you to know everything. Don't be afraid to ask questions. (some Docs love to answer questions during a case, others don't-- ask other nurses and techs which Docs do!)

If you can find out what cases you have for the next day, do some homework: read about that type of surgery, maybe even watch some online videos so you're not totally in the dark. This site is good:

http://www.or-live.com/

Get friendly with your scrub techs right away! Experienced ones know LOTS of important stuff. Again,ask lots of questions. Get a little pocket notebook and write things down.

Even though you're not a tech, try to learn as many instrument names as you can, and what those instruments are used for. You'll understand the cases better.

Never just sit around diddling with the computer or paperwork! Stay interested in the case. Walk around the OR, keep things outside the field neat, scraps of wrappers, etc picked up. Be attentive to what's going on, and try to anticipate the needs of the surgeons and techs. Does it look like they're using a lot of sponges? Offer some more.

Have fun-- you're in for an exciting experience.

It's not so difficult. Eyes and ears open and mouth zipped for the first few weeks(during cases). Just absorb as much as you can. A pocket notebook is a great help. Buy a good OR resource book....Alexanders never goes out of style...and read, before if you can, about what to expect. Offer to help if you have free time. Don't try too hard, though. You don't want to be put into a case you are not prepared to deal with.

Good Luck

Since I've recently changed jobs and now work at a different hospital in the OR I can offer some perspective. Basically... absorb the MD's preference cards and take notes. See where they put the bovie, suction, monitors, etc. Sit back and just watch how "they" do it regardless of how you used to do it. Absorb it all and do it their way until you are cut loose on your own. As stated before, keep your mouth zipped and help out when you can. I was able to do several cases after watching how they did it just one time. A C-section, lap coly, lap appy, open lap, carpal tunnel, etc. was the same at both places. I'm sure you will be able to apply what you already know to your new job.

Good Luck