I took a periop course and did 160+ volunteer clinical hrs in the OR over the summer and fortunately got hired into this OR. I am starting my 2nd week of orientation and I have found the class and clinical time I did to be helpful, but I still feel VERY overwhelmed. Last week I was trying my hardest to be on top of everything, but there are still so many kind of cases I am not that experienced with and surgeons that I don't know very well. Last week I was prepping, helping position, putting in foley's, interviewing patients, doing counts, charting, retrieving things, flash sterilizing, taking specimens, etc, so I guess for my first week that's not too bad. I just get so nervous, especially when I'm doing things in front of everyone. My confidence level isn't at its highest b/c I realize I am the new kid on the block and that compared to everyone else, I have the least amount of experience and I know it shows. I am a new grad so I've also recieved some comments about not having any other nursing experience.
I wonder if I will ever "get it all" and finally have some confidence. Maybe I am putting too much pressure on myself. I spoke to a nurse about feeling overwhelmed and she told me when she trained she focused on one area when she was in a case, that is she either circulated and did no charting or did only charting. I feel like that's probably a sound approach b/c it seems more important, to me, to understand what's going on w/ the surgery, what instruments and equipment is being used, and how the patient is responding, then getting all of the charting down (last week I was trying to juggle it all). Can anyone share w/ me how they tackled their orientation in the OR? I also ordered the Alexander book 3 days ago. I love the OR and I want to make it!
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I took a periop course and did 160+ volunteer clinical hrs in the OR over the summer and fortunately got hired into this OR. I am starting my 2nd week of orientation and I have found the class and clinical time I did to be helpful, but I still feel VERY overwhelmed. Last week I was trying my hardest to be on top of everything, but there are still so many kind of cases I am not that experienced with and surgeons that I don't know very well. Last week I was prepping, helping position, putting in foley's, interviewing patients, doing counts, charting, retrieving things, flash sterilizing, taking specimens, etc, so I guess for my first week that's not too bad. I just get so nervous, especially when I'm doing things in front of everyone. My confidence level isn't at its highest b/c I realize I am the new kid on the block and that compared to everyone else, I have the least amount of experience and I know it shows. I am a new grad so I've also recieved some comments about not having any other nursing experience.
I wonder if I will ever "get it all" and finally have some confidence. Maybe I am putting too much pressure on myself. I spoke to a nurse about feeling overwhelmed and she told me when she trained she focused on one area when she was in a case, that is she either circulated and did no charting or did only charting. I feel like that's probably a sound approach b/c it seems more important, to me, to understand what's going on w/ the surgery, what instruments and equipment is being used, and how the patient is responding, then getting all of the charting down (last week I was trying to juggle it all). Can anyone share w/ me how they tackled their orientation in the OR? I also ordered the Alexander book 3 days ago. I love the OR and I want to make it!