I'm curious ... does your school's curriculum include perioperative nursing? Do you have any clinical time in the O.R.?
I'm asking purely out of curiousity ... one of my instructors commented that many schools, particularly BSN programs, have eliminated O.R. material from their curriculum, partly due to the increased use of surgical techs to perform responsibilities that used to be the domain of the scrub nurse.
We had an entire unit on perioperative nursing in the Nursing Concepts II course, and we have 2 clinical days in the O.R. and 2 days in outpatient surgery.
Apr 28, '04
No. We don't have any in the OR, but when some were not busy on their clinical floor, like when we were in ob or peds and there weren't enough patients, the instructor sent some to the or and they LOVED it. Also some went to the ER and got to do lots of stuff and they were so willing to teach them in there.
Normally we don't get to go to those fun places.
Apr 28, '04
We cover perioperative nursing in 2nd semester and most students get to spend one day in the OR observing. We focus on the role of the circulating nurse, as
scrubs nurses have mostly been replaced with surgical techs.
Apr 28, '04
Not all nurses have been replaced by techs. Maybe we need to get more of you to come to the OR so we can hold onto it. Ask your instructors to let you have a day in the OR. That was the only way I got to see it as a student. Had I not had that day, I would never have known what a great area it is to work in. Never hurts to ask. I'd be pleased to have any of you in my ORs.
Apr 28, '04
I'm about to take a peri op elective this summer. We have 2 weeks of lecture (8 lectures) and 2 weeks of clinical in an OR (8 clinicals). I'm glad my school is offering it cause I'm interested in surgical nursing. After we are done I guess we can go work as a scrub tech in an OR from the skills that we will learn in the course.
Apr 28, '04
I would double check the scrub tech thing. I doubt you would have the info and training you need to scrub surgery with the schedule you have. It takes scrub techs over a year or year and a half 5 days a week of classes and rotations to scrub. Nurses are trained over a period of months to a year to scrub. I would think you could work within the OR helping the nurses, but I doubt you would have what you need to scrub in such a short class. Never know though, maybe.
Apr 28, '04
It was offered as an extra class along with our others (9 months long) and i took it. Love it, and very helpful. Plus it'll help that i've already had this, and the place that i work at will see this on my application for college tuition reimbursement.
Apr 28, '04
Hi! Our school includes perioperative nursing in the curriculum, 2nd semester. I actually really enjoyed it. I got to spend a day in the OR, PACU, and one in outpatient surgery. I am actually now thinking about outpatient surgery (ambulatory care) as my field, if I could manage to get a spot. Alot of them are snatched up as soon as they are available, as the schedule is
M-F, 6:30 am to 2:30 pm. I will see, still have OB (my first interest) and Peds to go!
Apr 29, '04
They're offering it as an elective this summer. As a seminar, for 4 weeks, and 36 hours in clinical. It's supposedly an easy A, so I'm thinking about taking it.
Apr 29, '04
We have a 4 week OR rotation during our second semester along with Peds and OB. I personally did not like it that much, but that's just me.
Apr 29, '04
Once again Lori good post. It did take me a year to become a scrub tech, and yes we had classroom time 3 days a week. Also had to sit for certification test which was close to $400.00. I hardly think anyone could pick it up in a couple of weeks. :chuckle
Apr 30, '04
I'd love to spend some time in the OR. I think we should be exposed to everything to see where our passion is. Our first semester instructor wouldn't permit it although others did. Maybe during my second med/surg rotation, I'll get a chance or maybe I'll get to see a c-section.
Apr 30, '04
Actually it was seeing a C-section during my L&D rotation that I became enthralled in surgery. I was so interested in the surgical aspect I nearly forgot my objectives for the mother-baby part.
Apr 28, '04Joined: Apr '04; Posts: 20No. We don't have any in the OR, but when some were not busy on their clinical floor, like when we were in ob or peds and there weren't enough patients, the instructor sent some to the or and they LOVED it. Also some went to the ER and got to do lots of stuff and they were so willing to teach them in there.
Apr 28, '04Occupation: Operating Room Nurse Specialty: 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER ; From: US ; Joined: Jun '03; Posts: 17,036; Likes: 1,006It was offered as an extra class along with our others (9 months long) and i took it. Love it, and very helpful. Plus it'll help that i've already had this, and the place that i work at will see this on my application for college tuition reimbursement.
Apr 29, '04Occupation: Hospice Nurse Specialty: Rehab, Step-down,Tele,Hospice ; Joined: Sep '03; Posts: 355; Likes: 55Once again Lori good post. It did take me a year to become a scrub tech, and yes we had classroom time 3 days a week. Also had to sit for certification test which was close to $400.00. I hardly think anyone could pick it up in a couple of weeks. :chuckle
