Anyone ever feel bored?

Specialties Operating Room

Published

does anyone ever feel bored in working in the OR? Sometimes I feel like once the case is set up and rolling I am just on the sidelines doing my charting. Am I the only one??

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Occasionally, but I say take advantage of the down time while you can- it can be replaced by crazy fast cases (the true "all I need is a hemostat and a bovie), cases with specimens out the yin yang that need run to the frozen section room/ mammo/ lab/ micro/ whatever else, codes on patients who are really sick, codes on patients who are young and healthy, you name it, it can probably happen.

Specializes in OR.

NEVER! Once case gets going, there is still so much to do! Charting, yes, but there is so much more: re-review card to be sure everything is there-and update it if needed; get dressings ready. Help scrub as needed. Think about next case-mentally prepare and or make a few written notes if necessary. Re-review chart-be sure you didn't miss anything to give report. Plan for end of case..do I need a bed, or anything special? Clean up room. Stock or get a list to stock together (if your facility allows/does this). Assist/anticipate anesthetic needs. Most important: PAY ATTENTION TO THE FIELD AND THE CASE! So many circulators forget that this is their job. I am probably forgetting some things, too. When I was a kid, I told my mom I was "bored". Cleaned windows and screens the rest of that summer...

NEVER! Once case gets going, there is still so much to do! Charting, yes, but there is so much more: re-review card to be sure everything is there-and update it if needed; get dressings ready. Help scrub as needed. Think about next case-mentally prepare and or make a few written notes if necessary. Re-review chart-be sure you didn't miss anything to give report. Plan for end of case..do I need a bed, or anything special? Clean up room. Stock or get a list to stock together (if your facility allows/does this). Assist/anticipate anesthetic needs. Most important: PAY ATTENTION TO THE FIELD AND THE CASE! So many circulators forget that this is their job. I am probably forgetting some things, too. When I was a kid, I told my mom I was "bored". Cleaned windows and screens the rest of that summer...

I thought I posted a reply to this thread...strange. Anyway, regarding this part above, I can't tell you how many times I've seen circulators who face their back to the field and zone out during the surgery, not paying attention. I cringe when I hear the doctor asking for something more than once because they aren't paying attention. I understand this is a great time to get the charting done, I do this as well, but it's so important to remember to pay attention to what is going on. Good point.

Specializes in Sleep medicine,Floor nursing, OR, Trauma.

Circulating, in my world, is a lot like sex:

If you're bored....you're doing it wrong.

::ahem::

Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.

Being bored at times happens in all areas of nursing from time to time even if you are busy.

I don't feel bored. I usually have 8 cases a day working w/ pediatrics, so that keeps me VERY busy.

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