advice for new grad possibly working in ambulatory surgery center?

[ceebeeRN]

sorry for the small novel...just trying to give you a clearer view so I can get useful feedback.

Call it being overly optimistic since I have yet to complete an upcoming interview for a fulltime RN at an ambulatory surgery center. But in the event I am offered the position, I would like to know what I may be getting myself into! haha

When I first came across the job opportunity, I originally dismissed it because I felt that I may not be a good fit due to my limited experience in phlebotomy, which given the center's speciality, I assume would be a very needed skill. however the job description did mention a lot of abilities I did have, so I took a chance and applied anyway. and lo and behold, they called me in!

While I love the idea of working in a small local environment and having regular hours, I worry about the lack of preceptorship, especially since this isn't a primary care clinic--its an outpatient vascular surgery center so the patients will be in a more acute state than at a regular clinic.

If any of you entered office/ambulatory care nursing as a new Grad, how was the transition? Did you feel the clinic gave you an adequate orientation/introduction to professional nursing..or did you feel just thrown in? Was there someone to help in strengthening your technical skills?

Also the job description seemed to stress a lot of computer and technology knowledge, so am I to assume that means that a large portion of this position involves paper/clerical work?

In an ambulatory surgery center, what is some of the tasks the RN usually completes? FYI, From what I know, it doesn't seem I will be in the OR or act as a scrub nurse.

[brownbook]

sorry for the small novel...just trying to give you a clearer view so I can get useful feedback.

Call it being overly optimistic since I have yet to complete an upcoming interview for a fulltime RN at an ambulatory surgery center. But in the event I am offered the position, I would like to know what I may be getting myself into! haha

When I first came across the job opportunity, I originally dismissed it because I felt that I may not be a good fit due to my limited experience in phlebotomy, which given the center's speciality, I assume would be a very needed skill. however the job description did mention a lot of abilities I did have, so I took a chance and applied anyway. and lo and behold, they called me in!

While I love the idea of working in a small local environment and having regular hours, I worry about the lack of preceptorship, especially since this isn't a primary care clinic--its an outpatient vascular surgery center so the patients will be in a more acute state than at a regular clinic.

If any of you entered office/ambulatory care nursing as a new Grad, how was the transition? Did you feel the clinic gave you an adequate orientation/introduction to professional nursing..or did you feel just thrown in? Was there someone to help in strengthening your technical skills?

Also the job description seemed to stress a lot of computer and technology knowledge, so am I to assume that means that a large portion of this position involves paper/clerical work?

In an ambulatory surgery center, what is some of the tasks the RN usually completes? FYI, From what I know, it doesn't seem I will be in the OR or act as a scrub nurse.

I work in an ambulatory surgery center. The job description where you applied does not really sound much like what I deal with? We don't use computers much? I'm not sure what the technology knowledge refers to?

Regardless, if they offer you the job take it. Even if you don't have a one on one preceptor hopefully the staff or management will be supportive and helpful?

I had a lot of general nursing experience before I came to out patient surgery, but many co-workers started fresh from school and have done fine.

In admit I start IV's (there are thousand of Allnurses tips on perfecting IV skills), witness consents, make sure the OR paperwork is current. In recovery, PACU, I monitor patients for the 1 - 4 hours they stay. give pain meds. Send them home with discharge instructions.

Take the job then you can ask more specific questions about the technology or type of nursing skills you will be dealing with.