frustrations

[cyncopia]

I am about one month into my orientation and I am getting the hang of things so far. However one of the surgeons complained to my manager that I am mispronouncing procedure names during my timeout. I feel so stupid, buts its not like my preceptors do anything or help me as I am butchering the names. Is it normal that some stuff in the OR makes me feel plain stupid? Some of this stuff is so complicated and I am getting frustrated. Everyone says to give it a year and it will click, but I am seriously so mad at myself because I know I am a very competent nurse, but mis pronouncing procedure names and not knowing how to hook up equipment makes me look and FEEL so dumb.

[FlyOR]

Oh please. I am still googling stuff two years later. I know nurses with ten years that google stuff, nevermind pronouncing it.

This surgeon is a twit. Are you at a teaching hospital? Because if you are, I find that as long as I choose a non-stress moment, most surgeons are willing to explain things to me and some seem to like the questions, it shows I am interested and vested in what they're doing. Next time you work with the guy, choose a quick moment as say "Hey Dr. Smith, I am not sure about this procedure, do you say it like this?" That'll probably shut him down.

Humility is always a winner, and it never bites you in the tookus.

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I find it concerning that your preceptor is not helping you pronounce the names of the procedures correctly. That is on HER/HIM, not YOU. They should be teaching you better. It is akin to learning a new language.

When you are checking the consent pre-operatively, write the procedure out on a piece of paper and ask someone, be it your preceptor or the surgeon/resident or any other provider in the room how to pronounce the procedure. Then write it out phoenetically for yourself. This is how I learned to pronounce the really long ones.

Don't get too beat up. You will learn it...and remember, there is a reason they call it "growing pains." You are growing and learning. You will get there.

[divokevan]

Bwuahahaha! Don't you worry you're little self about that! Plenty of stupid things you'll do in your first 6 months... at least thats been my experience so far! I'm 8 months in, two weeks on my own and now its a WHOLE NEW SET OF STUPID! Oh well! I just keep a good attitude and laugh at myself and try hard. Hopefully, this will start to become easier if I do that! At least that's what I tell myself. Once you're done though with orientation, you'll feel better!

[ebear, BSN, RN]

I have 28 yrs OR experience and still feel dumb some days! Don't let that jackass surgeon get to you, sweetie! You'll be fine and EVERYONE has felt like you do...if they say they haven't, they're lying!!! There's SO much equipment to learn. Give yourself time. :redbeathe

[mactheknife]

We have all been there and like ebear I have been in the OR for 26 years. I am now a unit supervisor and still have things to learn. I now work in Saudi with colleagues from all over the world. You have no idea the things that get said in our unit. We just laugh is off and help one another.

If that surgeon complained it was probable because he was looking for a reason to speak to your supervisor. I agree with FlyOR he is a twit.

Your preceptor should have been more helpful, she is the one who should be embarrased.

[solneeshka, BSN, RN]

Bwuahahaha! Don't you worry you're little self about that! Plenty of stupid things you'll do in your first 6 months... at least thats been my experience so far! I'm 8 months in, two weeks on my own and now its a WHOLE NEW SET OF STUPID! Oh well! I just keep a good attitude and laugh at myself and try hard. Hopefully, this will start to become easier if I do that! At least that's what I tell myself. Once you're done though with orientation, you'll feel better!

Oh, your post just made me feel so much better about myself! I'm almost 5 months into my orientation and had been flying really high, then just had my 2 worst days ever, out of nowhere. Everyone tells me that's how it goes, and boy were they right. "Whole new set of stupid," I'm gonna remember that one

[neenrn]

That surgeon sounds like a real jerk. If he dosen't like how you pronounce procedures have him do the time out. That should shut him up. The OR is a tough environment and you need to build a thick skin, half the time now I don't even hear their crabbing any more. I had a surgeon tell me to get a chest tube and as I left the room he said" today would be nice" he and the resident laughed ... I stopped and said " Pardon, I didn't hear that", he never did that again ... some of these guys are real jerks don't let them get to you. Your manager should be more supportive of you, if your preceptor is not effective in helping you. Be brave and ask for a new one. At my facility the preceptors get paid quite a bit more. Maybe that preceptor will get the point, if this person is genuinly not helpful maybe they should not be a preceptor. I had a preceptor who was so mean, her goal for the year was to not make a fellow staff member cry!!!!

she doesn't precept any more as she was very unhelpful and cruel to new staff.