Ask an OR nurse (Questions about what we do or how to become one of us)

Specialties Operating Room

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I've gotten a couple of PMs from members asking about a job as an OR nurse. In the interests of sharing those questions with anyone interested in a career as an OR nurse, I thought I'd start a thread for those questions to be posted. I'll check in regularly and answer the ones I can, and I'm sure the other regulars here in the OR forum will share their knowledge as well.

So, what would you like to know about OR nursing?

Edited to add: Tips for new operating room nurses

Edited again to add: Soooo, you're observing in the operating room (O.R.)...

Edited yet again to add: What do Operating Room Nurses Do?

(I just keep refinding older threads that are good resources)

Specializes in Operating Room.
Rose_Queen said:

I've gotten a couple of PMs from members asking about a job as an OR nurse. In the interests of sharing those questions with anyone interested in a career as an OR nurse, I thought I'd start a thread for those questions to be posted. I'll check in regularly and answer the ones I can, and I'm sure the other regulars here in the OR forum will share their knowledge as well.

So, what would you like to know about OR nursing?

Edited to add: Tips for new operating room nurses

Edited again to add: Soooo, you're observing in the operating room (O.R.)...

Edited yet again to add: What do Operating Room Nurses Do?

(I just keep refinding older threads that are good resources)

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Baby OR RN here (2months in). I know I want to further my education in some way, RNFA or NP Im not sure. In your opinion, which do you feel is worth the time (better pay)? What are the pros and con to each in your eyes? I know they are very different but I'm having a hard time deciding which is right for me. If I want to go the NP route, I would want to start sooner rather than later. TIA ?

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Specializes in OR.

Hello,

New grad nurse here and new to the OR. I have a question about skin antisepsis and where to find a good guide for a variety of cases...? 
Specifically,

1) Betadine prep for male circumcision or cysto? Foleys I get because you have a designated dirty hand but when prepping all of it, what's the best practice.

2) prep for mastectomy with axillary sentinel node interrogation and, DIEP flap or adductor flap? 
 

thanks in advance!

 

 

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

AORN has good resources that cover various preps, procedures, set ups, etc. as part of their eGuidelines subscription. Check into if your facility has a subscription, and if they do you have access to all of those things as long as you are using the facility's internet.

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Is OR nursing physically more demanding and difficult than working on a busy tele/step down unit? 

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Faith.O said:

Is OR nursing physically more demanding and difficult than working on a busy tele/step down unit? 

There's really no one answer for this. It truly depends on the setting and whether the facility teaches nurses to scrub.

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Specializes in Surgery.
Faith.O said:

Is OR nursing physically more demanding and difficult than working on a busy tele/step down unit? 

I would tend to say no, you have hover mats to move obese patients from the stretcher to the OR bed, a dedicated team helping  versus trying to find anyone to help you boost a floor patient or walk someone to the BR. But, scrubbing provides a different and at times more difficult physical element-lifting pans of instruments, standing on your feet for hours, being hot/cold/sick/full bladder in the OR and not being able to touch your face/go to the bathroom or leave without someone scrubbing you out.. So long story short, it just depends. 

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Specializes in SICU/CVICU.

I'm moving to a new state and the facility I'm looking to move to doesn't have any critical care positions open. I have mostly worked in an SICU or CVICU and was thinking of applying for either the OR or Cath lab. What do you enjoy most and least about the OR? Do you typically get to choose what specialty service you work for, or are you just thrown wherever they need you ? 

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Specializes in OMFS, Dentistry.

I love the OR. I'm responsible for one patient at a time. Love love love 

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Enjoy the most: the amazing teamwork of everyone coming together for a patient in their most vulnerable time 

Enjoy the least: call. Being jolted out of sleep can be a very unwelcome feeling

As for specialties, that will depend on the facility, their staffing practices, and their case volumes. In some, you may only do a specialty you've chosen. In others, you may be jack of all trades. 

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