experiences with poor or training programs and orientation promises

[teenarn]

I'm doing a little research about Hospital based OR training programs and how they measure up. It has been my experience that hospitals don't have a very comprehensive program to train new grads or new nurses to the profession on how to be OR nurses. I would like to hear some experiences you may have had with programs or specific on-line training programs and if they have worked :nurse:for you, where have they lacked? You input is greatly appreciated.

[trixie_s_CNOR]

When I started in the OR about 4 years ago, we took AORN's peri-op 101 with a department educator, then 6-12 months of working with a preceptor. The orientation was sufficient for my needs. I had a decent experience (some of the "personalities" in the OR are hard to deal with). The orientation was not supposed to teach scrubbing, but I was persistent and managed to learn a thing or 2 about passing instruments.

I hope this helps.

Trix

[land64shark]

My hospital is trying to train new grads in the OR. It's really hit or miss depending on your preceptor assignment. Some of the preceptors are specialized, so the trainee gets to experience the repetition of the room. Others are assigned different services daily so the poor trainee is overwhelmed with no continuity. Each of the trainees is at a different stage of development even though they began at the same time. It's very unstructured.

Then there's the strong personalities that don't make it any easier on the newbies as well. It's like a feeding frenzy if the trainee makes a mistake.

[RNERHOUSESUPOR]

I was trained as an RN to Scrub. Started in the Main OR and then went to the CVOR. Picked up some Circulating activities, but didn't do many. Did a couple Winter travel assignments and was able to scrub. This summer I took what I thought was a scrub position but arrived and was expected to Circulate ("You are an RN and RN's are Circulators") I'm now looking for another job. Will probably try and find somewhere to get the orientation in Circulating with some fill in scrub (don't want to loose the touch). Any suggestions on where to go. Is a University hospital better or should I just find a hospital where I want to spend some time? Will plan on traveling again when I feel comfortable with the circulating duties.

Thanks,

Rod

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I was trained as an RN to Scrub. Started in the Main OR and then went to the CVOR. Picked up some Circulating activities, but didn't do many. Did a couple Winter travel assignments and was able to scrub. This summer I took what I thought was a scrub position but arrived and was expected to Circulate ("You are an RN and RN's are Circulators") I'm now looking for another job. Will probably try and find somewhere to get the orientation in Circulating with some fill in scrub (don't want to loose the touch). Any suggestions on where to go. Is a University hospital better or should I just find a hospital where I want to spend some time? Will plan on traveling again when I feel comfortable with the circulating duties.

Thanks,

Rod

Usually the big teaching hospitals offer good orientation programs...I would ask many questions during the interview process as well so you know what their program entails.