Call survival tips for RN new to the OR

ebear, BSN, RN · Nov 7, 2007

It would be good if the "Life and Limb" RN could back you up for any cases where you feel uncomfortable. Just start looking around and write in a little book where supplies are located (and keep it with you when on call). Try to get into more ortho rooms in the next few weeks. You will likely do a lot of ortho. when on call. Sometimes, the only way to learn is just jump in and I think everybody felt the same as you do when we first started call! You'll be fine! Just make sure you have somebody to call if you get stuck! GOOD LUCK!!

ebear

akor · Nov 7, 2007

I hear ya! I am three years now in a busy Level 1 trauma center and was scared to take call. It is very nerve racking but with perseverance and time, you get better. I worked in a busy OR from 88 to 93, then took off 12 years. I entered back into nursing in Italy and because I had OR experience, they put me there. I wanted to go to L&D! I do love the OR. It is SO interesting and I am thankful that most of my colleagues help me out when I need them. However, when I am on- call which is 6 time or more a month, I feel less nervous as time goes by. Good luck......

AKOR

brewerpaul · Nov 8, 2007

If you have any choice in the matter, try to get assigned to call with a good solid tech who you get along with. A good tech is your best friend!

ebear, BSN, RN · Nov 8, 2007

AMEN, brewerpaul!

judy931 · Nov 8, 2007

This is my first posting here. I have worked in the OR since 1982 as an LPN/ORT.

I'm in school for my RN now. I have a great deal of respect for the RN 's I work with, especially when all of us are asking for something at the same time! As suggested by another post, a strong scrub will be a tremendous help, and steer you in the right direction when your not sure what is needed. It will help if you realize that any job as complicated as nursing takes about 12 months to feel really comfortable. It sounds like your right on track!

Good luck!

USA987, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 10, 2007

Thanks all!!!

I agree with you 100% brewerpaul regarding the techs. They can really make or break it...and so far I think I have a good relationship with most of them.

I will keep you posted! Thanks again for all the encouragement.

:)

mamamiah · Nov 10, 2007

Hi there,

I have been a Surg Tech going on 10 years now. I have just passed my NCLEX-PN and am currently working in the OR.

It would be nice if you were able to take call with a strong tech, but there are times when that won't happen. Try to be as prepared as you possibly can. As stated before in another text, keep a small notepad of notes as to where things are at. Keep notes on what the Doc prefers, such as suture, prep, dressings, meds if any, and if they like certain specialty trays.

Write down what trays you would need for certain specialties.

Example:

General surgery, lap tray, retractor tray, long accessory and intestinal intrument trays.

Vascular, depending on what they are working on, mini vascular, large vascular tray say for AAA, (my facility has a carotid tray, everything you need for that specific case.

Ortho, we have a major bone tray, minor bone tray depending what you are working on. if large bones, large drill set, smaller bones, mini driver set.

I still keep a small notebook that I had made up at Staples.

Dr. __________ Case________________

Prep

Dressing

Specialty Instruments

Suture

Meds

Mayo Stand Instruments

Back Table

These are a few things you can try to keep track of.

Try to help the tech as much as you possibly can, If they see you are helping them, they will go above and beyond the call of duty to help out the RN.

:balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons::balloons:

shodobe · Nov 11, 2007

Having a strong Tech is a good idea, but when getting comfortable in the OR on call that strong RN is even better. There are many, many tasks that a tech just can't help you with and they are pretty much one dimensional so their help is one aspect. Their outlook on call situations can be invaluable but remember they are the scrub but you take care pretty much everything else when it comes to the patient. You are the ultimate responsible person for what happens to that patient. I would rather find a strong RN that can circ and scrub to learn from, their skills are can make taking call less stressful. See if that backup RN can be available on those nights where you get that oddball case that you feel uncomfortable with and they can come in to help. I your post it states you have 2 scrubs on call, are these RNs or techs? Makes a big difference in my book. Why so many people? Large hospital or what? I work in a 350 bed facility and there are only two of us on call, both RNs, plus anesthesia. Good luck and take the advice of the above posters, carry a small book with you write down those little comments so you can get them imprinted in your mind years down the road.

USA987, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 13, 2007

Our hospital is about equivalent in size to yours Shodobe. Our techs are not RN's but almost all of them did go through a 2 year tech program where they received Associate's Degrees. Some of them are First Assists. A lot of times both of them scrub in, but in some cases one doesn't and they can run for me. Very few RN's in my hospital scrub (unless they were previously a scrub and went back to school for their RN).

shodobe · Nov 14, 2007

Our hospital is about equivalent in size to yours Shodobe. Our techs are not RN's but almost all of them did go through a 2 year tech program where they received Associate's Degrees. Some of them are First Assists. A lot of times both of them scrub in, but in some cases one doesn't and they can run for me. Very few RN's in my hospital scrub (unless they were previously a scrub and went back to school for their RN).

We have an all RN staff and you have to learn both. I have been scrubbing for 30 years and the others in my department are between 2 years and 25 years. To be hired here you HAVE to scrub and have no choice. My hospital is a very unique place because we all know this very, very unusual and yet very rewarding. All of our RNs are in position of knowing their job resume is greatly inflated because of this skill. It has always been nice to know that you do have a choice of scrubbing or circulating. At this point in career I know I couldn't day after day knowing that the only thing I would be doing is circulating. Now, don't get me wrong there are alot of days that is the only thing I want to do. Plus, I am evening charge so I have to have others scrub so I can run the department. We have some RNs that kill someone if they had to circ, so each is different. No techs and no intention on hiring any in the future. All of us first assist on wide variety of cases. The only thing we don't do is suture, so no real need even for certified FAs. Every hospital has their needs and usually always it is because of the bottom line, MONEY! You save a bundle on hiring all of those techs and not RNs. A lot of very good techs out there and a lot of mediocre ones, also the same applies to RNs.