How can we all work together?

sharij1 · Jan 4, 2005

I am new to this site and was reading the differences between the RN's and the scrub tech's..I am 31 years old and I am starting the Surg Tech Program in 2 Days!!! This is a goal I have been putting off due to family and I was SOOOOO excited to begin and start learning. UNTIL... I read the problems between the two job descriptions...Do I want to work where I am always trying to prove myself...equally doing the same thing...Caring for a patient. Confused now about ...maybe dealing with conflict in the OR. Is it always a battle between nurses and Scrubs? Naa Naa Na boo boo kind of thing? Please someone shed some light on the "Real" relationship. Is there any respect going both ways..? What am I getting myself into.....SAD...because as I said ,I am 31, and being a scrub tech has been a goal and dream for me since I was 18 years old and It is finally coming true...one husband and three children later and now It's MY turn to fly....SHOULD I JUMP?

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Jan 4, 2005

(This is not directed at anyone, although it looks like it is. This is directed at anyone who works in an O.R.)

RESPECT. Yes respect may be EARNED, but i'm a firm believer you have to act like you deserve it, and that doesn't mean being disrespectful and rude or commanding, yet it doesn't mean you're kissing butt either.

Not acting like your **** doesn't stink just because of their job title or role.

Not acting like your superior because of you job title or role.

We're all there for the pt. It's wise to keep this in mind.

My first preceptor, who happened to be an RN, had a bitter-at-the-world attitude. CONSTANTLY muttering loudly "RNs only belong here, LPNs are a joke" and such. Well, yeah, that's her opinion but 1) I didn't ask what she thought 2) Work is not the place to be like that and 3) she was someone who preached about teamwork, but acted like anyone who wasn't an RN wasn't worth spitting on. And WONDERED why people act like she was the bad guy, and was insulted when she didn't get invited to the Halloween party (yeah, small thing, but still). Gee, wonder why.

Not to mention how crap like could make a person feel. I don't respect her. Perhaps if she treated staff like human beings, i would. That's first and foremost to me. No matter what you do in the O.R., you're still a human being with feelings. It's not necessary to strive to hurt people and make them angry.

I'll be going back to school to get my ADN. But i swear, if i even remotely thought that all RNs were like that preceptor, i wouldn't go back to school (i know better than to think that). I wouldn't want to risk inheriting her bitter-at-everyone-and-the-world attitude. I mean, what a miserable way to live, not to mention the health problems that must cause.

On the other hand, we've have a few problems with people at work, who get p.o.'d when they're told "you can't do that" when they've attempted to do something they're not qualified for. Know the state laws, know your facilies policies and procedures to avoid these problems.

shodobe · Jan 5, 2005

There are always going to be the soar-grape people in the OR. Old, go by the book, attitudes that don't really fly in todays ORs. I live in fantasy world that if I had it my way there would only be RNs in the OR. This is not the case and I excepted it many years ago. I have to share part of my responsibilities with others to facilitate good patient care. Now, I do have a problem with some Techs who don't know their scope of practice as well as some RNs who don't know their's either. If you have been in the game long enough, and I have, you know what you can do and what to avoid at all costs! I think you will find this problem anywhere you go and you just have to except it and work around it. In any situation as long as you show the initiative and the willingness to ask questions and not complain when you don't get your way, you are far ahead of the game. Sharij1, continue with your dream and don't let anyone or anything you read here distract you from your goal. We all have our bad days, me included, and say things we don't really mean or it isn't put into proper meaning. I don't like "showboating" and "one upsman" attitudes and I don't think it reflects how OR nurses really feel. OR nursing is a very tight community and we all strive for the same goal, the patient's outcome. OR nurses are, at last info, the oldest (47) group in nursing. You can see we are getting older and fewer are coming into our specialty, pretty soon the age avg will go up and up and we will end up being a bunch of old farts! We do need god, enthusiastic people to continue what we started a long time ago. WELCOME ABOARD! Mike

sharij1 · Jan 5, 2005

Thank you for the reply . I am very exited to begin to go down this road in the Surg Tech field and am aware that anywhere you work, there are going to be differences.

I just never new that some people feel that there should be NO Scrub Techs in the OR

just RNs. Are Scrub Techs looked down on by most RNs? Should I "watch my back" when I do begin to start my career? This is all new to me.

shodobe · Jan 5, 2005

No matter where you go there will always be people trying to undermine your efforts. Ignore them and do your best. These types are really far and few between so don't worry about it too much. Just work hard and that will be all you need to get through any difficult times. good luck, mike

Chrislynn2003 · Jan 6, 2005

I admire the scrub techs where I work. We do alot of orthopedics and they are great at what they do. I only scrub when there aren't enough techs working that day, so as an RN I look up to the scrub techs to help and teach me. There is so much more they know about scrubbing than I do, so I will never make them feel inferior to me, just because I am an RN.

Christine

ScrubTechStudnt · Jan 14, 2005

I admire the scrub techs where I work. We do alot of orthopedics and they are great at what they do. I only scrub when there aren't enough techs working that day, so as an RN I look up to the scrub techs to help and teach me. There is so much more they know about scrubbing than I do, so I will never make them feel inferior to me, just because I am an RN.
Christine

I am also new to this site... and Sharij1 is actually IN MY CLASS! We car pool... lol! But I admire your reply.. i think that is great and I wish more people look at it like oyu do. Thank you very much for that. We are both students in Surg Tech and I eventually want to go get my RN. But we are only there for the patient and learn from each other whether we have been in the OR for 2 weeks or 20 years....Thank you again Christine.... your post was just great..

ScrubTechStudnt · Jan 14, 2005

Just one more comment, and i may be overstepping my bounderies, not sure. But if non- registerd nurses shouldnt be in the OR... or thats the talk. Then what are Surg Techs for. That is what we go to school for. Thats why they have the program. We cant go thru that program then get a job working in the ER, or ICU or whatever. That is what RN's are for. NOT at all saying that they shouldnt be in the OR because we need them too. They help us as much as we help them. BUT if i am not mistaking and if i am... PLEASE tell me.. but they dont teach RN's scrubbing in school. do they not? Our teacher is a RN and Surg tech for 15 years actually. And that is what she explained to us... times may have changed but i am not sure if they have. Just a simple comment and question...

shodobe · Jan 15, 2005

Just one more comment, and i may be overstepping my bounderies, not sure. But if non- registerd nurses shouldnt be in the OR... or thats the talk. Then what are Surg Techs for. That is what we go to school for. Thats why they have the program. We cant go thru that program then get a job working in the ER, or ICU or whatever. That is what RN's are for. NOT at all saying that they shouldnt be in the OR because we need them too. They help us as much as we help them. BUT if i am not mistaking and if i am... PLEASE tell me.. but they dont teach RN's scrubbing in school. do they not? Our teacher is a RN and Surg tech for 15 years actually. And that is what she explained to us... times may have changed but i am not sure if they have. Just a simple comment and question...

Just curious what you are trying to say. Please clarify this statement because it seems to me you are saying the RNs are there to help you. Please tell me if I am wrong. Nurses are usually taught to scrub "after" they are hired into the OR. This is like MDs who come out of med school then go on to residency as a surgeon, they are not taught any surgical skills while in med school. STs on the other hand are taught scrubbing techniques immediately into their schooling, because that is all you will you will do, scrub. It is like a guy in the construction business who only wants to lay brick. He is taught to be a mason and nothing else because that is all he will do unless he wants to do electrical or framing work. Then he will go through all of the training, pass a state test to be certified. This is how I view it, so what is your take on ST and RN roles? Mike

ScrubTechStudnt · Jan 15, 2005

Just curious what you are trying to say. Please clarify this statement because it seems to me you are saying the RNs are there to help you. Please tell me if I am wrong. Nurses are usually taught to scrub "after" they are hired into the OR. This is like MDs who come out of med school then go on to residency as a surgeon, they are not taught any surgical skills while in med school. STs on the other hand are taught scrubbing techniques immediately into their schooling, because that is all you will you will do, scrub. It is like a guy in the construction business who only wants to lay brick. He is taught to be a mason and nothing else because that is all he will do unless he wants to do electrical or framing work. Then he will go through all of the training, pass a state test to be certified. This is how I view it, so what is your take on ST and RN roles? Mike

I am not saying that RN's are there to help us... if we are good at what we do and was taught well in the class we shouldnt need anyone to coach us thru anything. We should know how to do it ourselves with the exception of learning the hospitals requirements. All I was saying is that there was talk of not having non-RN's in the OR... then what were we trained to do? I am not going to graduate the program in Surg Tech then apply for a job in the ER. Thats not what I was trained to do. As i can tell you view everything right... I eventually want to be a RN but for now im a future ST. Ill Scrub, the RN's can circuate, be OR director whatever they choose.... thats all I was trying to state.

shodobe · Jan 16, 2005

Good answer. I think you will find a wide diverse opinion on this subject, don't pay attention to most but learn through other opinions. Most of us "old" nurses come from a different time and some find it hard to except changes. Good luck on your endeavors, Mike