Dear Diary... OR Edition!

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Specializes in Peds.

Hello guys!

I’ve decided to revive my old account to post about my new adventure in the OR! I’ve been working on a peds surgical floor for 2 years now, and transferred to the OR last week! My plan is to write every day about how my day went, things I’ve learned, etc. I hope to inspire someone out there who’s on the fence about switching to the OR! I’m currently in the periop 101 phase until the 2nd week of December, then I get to circulate and scrub some full time!

And now, before I talk about OR things, I’ve made a list of all the things I’m tired of dealing with on the floor... it’s for those days when I’m tempted to want to go back to the floor because of how overwhelming the OR feels... Warning, it’s very long!!

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Specializes in Peds.

I’m tired.

Tired of back to back admissions and discharges and transfers.

Tired of the bs orders we have to clarify.

Tired of the bs charting we have to do.

Tired of being done on time but having to stay past end of shift to give report.

Tired of chasing after beeping monitors.

Tired of chasing after beeping IVs.

Tired of pulse ox and cardiac leads that won’t stick to the babies skin.

Tired of having to work nights every 4 weeks, and Sundays every 3rd weekend.

Tired of unrealistic parents demands.

Tired of giving meds.

Tired of vitals q4. 

Tired of call lights.

Tired of poor staffing.

Tired of difficult assignments.

Tired of morning rounds with the educator. 

Tired of 12 hours shifts.

Tired of no real breaks.

Tired of being floated in the middle of your shift.

Tired of hunting down IV pumps and syringe pumps and oxygen supplies and thermometers.

Tired of cleaning up dirty messes and not having anyone to help.

Tired of feeling dirty in my scrubs after work.

Tired of draining patient/family interactions.

Tired of “can I get ice and ginger ale?” and “I need my nurse“.

Tired of having to answer every little question because I’m at the bedside.

Tired of being responsible for my patients going to X-ray and ultrasound and CT and fluoro and mri and who knows where and not get help to transport them.

Tired of being so short staffed that none of your coworkers can help you because they’re running around just as much as you.

Tired of CPS case workers and police officers chasing after nurses to get a statement. My job is NOT to talk to you!

Tired of the PTSD feelings you get when you hear the charge nurse’s pager going off and you know it’s your turn to get an admission because you’ve only got 3 kids when everyone else has 4.

Just tired.

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Specializes in Peds.

Recap of Week 1: 

Last week was mostly spent doing modules and watching videos. I’ve started to slowly find my way around. On Friday we got a full tour of the OR. Went into some of the rooms, played with some of the technology, went to SPD, sterile cores, preop and PACU. It was overwhelming. It’s just now starting to hit me how different this world is. I felt so lost looking at familiar supply bins yet see such foreign words on them. Like what the heck is a baby mosquito?? And the OR feels so huge. Overwhelming. So many faces I don’t know. I don’t miss the floor, I just miss the familiarity of it. But everyone is telling us to hang on, so I will.

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Specializes in Peds.

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Specializes in Endoscopy/Operating room.

Hang in there! I’ve been in the OR for almost 2 years. And I have more comfortable days than uncomfortable ones. There is a lot to learn! It is an alien planet. Once you start to feel comfortable , it’s nice. You only ever have one pt at a time and they sleep for the majority of it. No families to deal with. No call bells. The schedules are better too. Yes we take call but, I only have to take one weekend day every other month, and one holiday call every other year! I’m sure it varies place to place but I think that we have it pretty nice. AORN has tons of resources I recommend staying a member even after periop 101 is complete. The OR is unique and it takes a while to learn it all. Be patient. It’s worth it!

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Love this! Please keep it coming!

I'm a NICU RN looking to transition to OR. I resonated so much with being over parents. I'm leaving parents, not the babies.

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