Bummed Out- Leaving OR

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I've decided to leave the OR as a circulator. I'm very upset about things not working out. I went straight to the OR from school, and after a few months (3 months) of orientation, then being given the green light to go solo, despite voicing my concerns of being uncomfortable about being left alone in the OR, I've found that my level of performance flying solo has been sub-par (reflected in the attitudes of my co-workers).

I've read how some hospitals give new grads 6 months or more training. Wish I'd had more time. I really wanted things to work out, but after bumbling about, I've decided to leave.

I'm hopeful that maybe in the future I can return to the OR at another hospital. But, I am concerned that leaving with less than a year's experience will hurt my chances.

Any thoughts or advice would be well received. Thanks.

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Specializes in L&D, Surgery, Case Management.

I understand how hard it is to " learn " enough and be confident in your skills as a cirulator. I also tried at one hospital but some of the staff were so mean that I never had a chance. I went to another hospital to the OR and I learned to be a good circulator. So..... do not give up. It just takes time to feel the confidence that you need. I learn something new everyday. Just do not take the comments made ( and they will make them) to heart. Learn from them. You will become proficient and when you feel confident then you will inspire confidence from the OR team. You can do it!! :yeah:Feel free to e-mail me.

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

OK, so if you want to return to the OR some day, then there must be something about it that you like/love or you would just be done, right? What is it that you love that would attract you back? You also seem to be implying that your performance is sub-par based on what you think your peers are thinking! Has anybody actually said that you are not doing as well as they expect you to at this stage? And by anybody, I guess I mean has management or your supervisor actually said you are sub-par? Is there any opportunity to get some sit-down time in with a supervisor and to get all this out on the table and find out what you are doing well and what you need improvement on so that you can remediate anyting that you feel you are falling short on?

I hate so see someone give up something they obviously enjoy based on what appears to be flimsy evidence based on what you have said. Ask for what you want training wise. You say you know there are other programs that give more training, well, your education/training is partly in your own hands and if you need more then ask for more!

Good luck.

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I greatly appreciate your words of encouragement. I don't want to give up. Yet, I get so frustrated at work. The doctors, scrubs, and other nurses are letting me know that my performance as a circulator is not adequate. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten that big lump of frustration in my throat.

One of my supervisors said it's going to take a long time for me to learn how to be a circulator in the OR. I've been told that I'm slow. Slow at turning over the room; getting the patient from pre-op; etc. Then there's the hurdle of, "What do I need for this case?" Our pull sheets are outdated. And then there's the problem of, "Where do I find what's needed for this case?" My OR is not organized (an admission from management and staff).

I've been told one day, I'd just walk into the OR and everything would click, like magic.

But, until that magical day comes, I continue to bumble about, delaying cases, trying to find/pull supplies/instruments, etc. All this leads to consternation from other OR staff/management.

Again, thanks for the words of encouragement.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

OK, this is coming from someone with no OR experience to speak of, so maybe some experienced OR nurses can correct me if I'm wrong. I'm offering my opinion, though, because even though I'm an experienced nurse, I'd be lost in OR, so I think I can somewhat relate to how you feel. OR is so very different from other areas of nursing!

When you say things like your pull sheets are outdated, that you had three months of orientation, and that your OR is not organized, you are saying to me that your workplace is not conducive to the development of a good circulator from a new graduate. I think you're fighting an uphill battle, and it's harder than it needs to be.

I expect that the other circulators there do fine in spite of the circumstances, because they've been there forever, and they know where things are, and they've learned how to work around problems, and they don't have to think about what to find, where, when, and for whom.

My suggestion, then, would be to see if you can find other OR opportunities to pursue. It doesn't sound as if you've decided that you don't want OR; on the contrary! I think you still want to work there, but this one is not a good place for you to learn.

If there are other hospitals in your area, or free-standing surgery centers, I'd try applying there. You need to be very careful in how you word the answer to the "why are you leaving" question, because you don't want to sound negative about your current facility. I wouldn't, for example, say that they're disorganized.

Perhaps you could say something along the lines of "I don't think I'm catching on as quickly as my facility needs for me to, and they aren't able to give me more orientation. I'm looking for a facility that offers a longer orientation period."

Anyway, good luck to you. While OR might not be my area, we need good nurses there just as much as we do in other areas, and you sound like a very conscientious person and a good nurse!

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Specializes in Operating Room.

OP, I am angry on your behalf. :madface:To give some one fresh out of school and new to the OR only 3 months of training, and then complain that they are sub-par? Ridiculous. I was a scrub for years and I got about 8 months of training/orientation after nursing school. It can take up to 2 years to really feel comfortable. I have seen nurses who have 20, 30 + years of experience make mistakes.

I think you shouldn't give up on the OR just yet, although you should leave the OR you're in now. Evidently, they have no clue how to properly orient someone. Try a different hospital and be honest when applying. Make it clear that it was just a matter of needing more orientation. I think most hospitals give new grads at least 6 months and some places, it is closer to 6 months to a year before you're truly on your own(taking call etc). PM me if you have any questions.:)

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

Three months orientation for a new nurse to the OR is *nothing*And on top of that you went in as a new grad?

Of course you are still bumbling around!!!!

At 3 months I was still perfecting my package opening skills............lol

Are you at a large teaching hospital? If not, try to get into one. Your right, less than a year experience is not desirable. But, you are more experienced than someone who has never been in an OR before right?

( I am returning to the OR after a year long "break"...I was only on my own for a few months....my orientation was 9 months long, btw)

Even the worst of the OR phiranas told me that it takes a while, a long while, to become proficient. Hang tough. I say this because its not like you hate it in the OR.

I do understand a toxic work environment, though, and sometimes you just gotta change jobs. Have you resigned yet?

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Specializes in Operating Room.

OR pirahnas!! LOL...great description!!!!:yeah:

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If you love the OR, don't quit now!!

Three months is WAY too short for a new grad to learn this stuff and be expected to go solo. I did it, but I came to nursing after 30 years as a podiatrist so I had already DONE surgery and knew my way around an OR and sterile field.

Don't expect any "magical moment". You won't walk into the OR one day and suddenly know everything. It comes gradually, bit by bit. One day you may be circulating, say, a Gyn case and you'll find yourself reaching for the next suture that you know the tech is going to ask for, or instinctively going to get a pack of mosquitos because you noticed they only have one left. It's little things like that that add up.

Don't be so hard on yourself and expect yourself to be perfect at this point. You may want to ask for a "buddy" circulator, especially on cases where you haven't had much experience. I've been in the OR for about 9 months now and believe me I ask for help OFTEN.

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Specializes in L &D, Periop.

I was told when I entered my OR program that I would not be comfortable for a year. Don't give up or leave, ask them how you can improve. Ask your manager to have the pick lists updated and have someone show you how they find things quickly. Our center core LOOKS like a big mess but when someone explained the layout such as all laparoscopic stuff here, all general stuff there, vascular down there, hands, eyes, totals etc. it made sense. Tell them you want more time in orientation. I have been a nurse for 15 years and I am getting 6 months. For a new grad to get only 3 months is crazy. Do you think that the people that work there, doctors included where completely with it 3 months out of school? Again, don't give up, ask for more time, tell them you will take their criticisms but if they do they have to show you a way to improve.

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Specializes in Med-Surg;Rehab;Gerontology; Now OR.

i feel bad for you. 3 months is not enough of an orientation for anyone to feel comfortable circulating on their own. you seem to like the or so please don't give up. find someone in your workplace who can be your mentor. maybe it would also help if you knew your assignment the day before then you can sort of plan ahead.

if things are truly negative in your workplace then find another hospital and make sure that it will be the ideal place for you, a teaching hospital is better obviously. when i was traveling, i struggled at first when i got assigned to a community for profit hospital, the or was so fast paced, the mentality was the more cases---the more money. the clean up crew were literally at the door waiting for the patient to be taken to the pacu so obviously this would not be an ideal environment for a new grad with 3 months on their belt.

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Specializes in OR, community nursing.

I agree with what others said about your short period of orientation. They may be setting you up to fail. But if you hang in there for several more months, you may have a better chance to get a job in another OR. Some travel agencies take OR nurses after being on the job for 8 - 9 months.

On the other hand, not everyone is made for the OR. I am a new nurse grad with several years of experience as a surgical technologist (CST). I see some nurses would be great on the floor but not for the OR. I have worked with nurses who never take the time to learn what's involved in a surgical procedure. As a CST, I precept new nurses and teach them how to scrub and even spend time teaching them anatomy and physiology. However, many are not interested. Sometimes, it's easy to pick out the ones who are interested and those who are not.

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