Day surgery nurses

gwenith, BSN, RN · May 9, 2004

I can't speak form personal expereince but those that I know who have done this speak highly of it. The couple of times I have pooled to our day surgery I have found that the one thing that keeps our job interesting and rewarding is still there - the people.

bargainhound, RN · May 9, 2004

If you have a chance to get more time with family, keep working.....don't worry about the sacrifice of "being bored"...you are lucky to have a choice and be in the position to make a change.

susanmary · May 10, 2004

orrnlori, RN · May 10, 2004

Lots of positives. I would ask if the surgery center is surgeon owned or not. The one negative I will tell you is that in surgery, as far as the surgeons go, no one can ever do it well enough or fast enough for them. The nurses will run at a dead run constantly all day long. This is what has kept me from day surgery, I refuse to swing a mop because the surgeon has a 2pm tee off time. So you may encounter a lot of whining and carrying on from the surgeons, I would certainly ask what issues come up the most at this center for management to handle. I've sat at our desk before and literally had 3 different surgeons from three different services all whining and crying at the same time about their needs. If it's that kind of place, be sure and keep plenty of talcum powder around for the surgeon's chapped cheeks. :chuckle

joannep · May 11, 2004

Hi, thanks for all the replies.

I had my interview yesterday. Well, the building consists of consulting rooms downstairs and a small day surgery centre upstairs. Downstairs there are the receptionists and the practice manager, upstairs there are two office staff, the lady who cleans the instruments and the lady who does the sterilisation of equipment. Two theatres, one set up for gastroscope/colonoscope procedures, the other set up for eyes. I would be the only full time RN, the other RN's are casual and come in for "their" doctors lists.

The centre is owned by an opthamologist, his wife is also closely involved with running the centre. She is a psychologist specialising in geriatrics. Both seem pleasant people. I met the other opthamologist who works there. He seems ok. I also met the accountant.

They all seem to be impressed by my qualifications and experience, and they are pretty serious about offering me the job.

I asked if I would be able to access conference leave to attend the nurses day surgery conferences and the wife said, "that would be a good idea, I haven't been to one for a few years, we'll be able to go together". MMmm, that got me thinking, this lady is going to be very close to where I'm standing, she's going to want to know what I'm doing most days.

But, the salary package is generous, and maybe she'll relax when she knows me better, or maybe she's just lonely in the practice and sees me as another professional woman she can associate with. I don't know.

The downside is loosing my accumulated sick leave, my long service, and going from 6 weeks leave to 4 weeks leave. But I will get all weekends, public holidays, easter and christmas off.

I am also concerned that I will be in a job where there will be no-one to laugh with. No other RN's, except for when the lists are on, and lets face it, I don't think a psychologist specialising in geriatrics is going to have the same black humour as a 43 year old nurse.

I have pretty much mulled over this decision for the past 48 hours, and I am pretty sure I am going to refuse it, if it is offered. It seems like madness I know, but I don't feel that I am a "good fit" for this job.

Joanne :)

orrnlori, RN · May 11, 2004

Doctor's wives can be some of the b*tchiest females in the world. I don't think I'd consider working for a doctor that is in partnership with his wife. If your little voice says this isn't the job for you then follow that intuition. It's usually the right one.

gwenith, BSN, RN · May 11, 2004

Joanne - you have GOT to go with your gut. No choice here. Long service leave is a BIG incentive to stay somewhere - I have used it before - funded a year long return to university - next lot will be paying off the house while I work agency.