How long?

First of all, congratulations to making it into the program! I am one year out of orientation (7 month program) and circulate gen/gyn/plastics. If you don't already do this, I would suggest a little notebook to keep notes on doctor-specific info on, important #'s, or just a list of stuff you don't have room in your head for!

I hear it takes about one year to feel like you know what's totally going on around you. I think it's pretty true for the most part. There are always going to be cases you've never seen or done during orientation that will throw you for a loop. But hopefully, you will gain enough confidence and trust in others that they will help you get through it! I have gotten to the point where I am tying the doctor up and just blurt out "okay, I've never done this procedure before, so you'll have to just tell me what you need."

I've even had to say to a doctor who, for some reason had preference cards of someone else copied/pasted OVER his...."um, I'm going to have to ask for your likes and dislikes, as we don't have this card updated to your specifics." He blew a gasket, but I am now used to that.

I know what u mean about sharks and old hens in the OR. Just know that it's not personal, it's just that everyone in OR is a type-A personality. We have to be to deal with some egos! That and the daily stresses of being in the OR with some of those critical cases. Lives are in our hands. Literally.

The thing with the old hens and the nasty docs is 1)thankfully there's not too many and 2)most of these people, the minute you stand up to them, they back off. Also, these old hens have to retire sometime, don't they?

Thanks RoRO, ortess.....

I dunno, I really love what I am doing, I actually think to myself "I am really priviledged to be here". But I want to be GOOD at it, like everyone else!!!!!! I feel a little inept, sometimes, still, and I thought it would pass by now???? I guess I just have to be patient with myself....... There are so many specialties, and so many procedures..... I cant imagine myself being as good as the other nurses/techs that are there.......But then again, I look around,sometimes, and say to myself "YOU are just as capable as all of these other people, you can do it" .........It's just sometimes I forget it, and forget how long it really takes to be a confident OR nurse. RORO, when you say a year to feel comfortable, do you mean a year including orientation, or one year on your own????

ortess..... yes, I too find it amazing that the minute you show the sharks your not a push over, they want to be your best friend....I work with a bunch of real winners, I'll tell ya that!!!! I always thought, before I went to the OR, that the surgeons would be the problem of a new nurse in the OR-----was I mistaken!!!!!! The surgeons, even chiefs, are PUSSYCATS compared to most of the staff that are supposed to be my colleagues.......It took a lot of time for me to get used to that, and it still bothers me, as I have never been in a situation like this before... but it is getting better, as I see its not personal, and every one of us new people are going through it. They(the sharks) always need a dog to kick around.... it just happens to be the new nurses right now.......lol

RNOTODAY, I am just now at my one year post-orientation. I totally understand it when you say that you want to be just as good as the more seasoned nurses, and to finally feel comfortable and confident. I am the same way.

Being on-call sorta pushes you over to the imaginary "fully competent" line that one creates for themself. I was surprised when I was on-call (and off orientation), showed up before my scrub, and picked the case by thinking through the whole procedure (it was a laparoscopy) and I was able to remember all the disposables, etc. It was like, "yeah, I'm an OR nurse."

It is an interesting dynamic in the OR, no? I think it's interesting that they always stress teamwork, and it's like after the case is over, you can't even step into the breakroom for fear they're talking about how poorly you did in the case! It's totally true what my preceptor told me once: You will get to know who it is that you can ask "silly" questions to and they won't tell everyone else you're an idiot. But choose wisely.

Just remember, everyone in the OR is not only a type-A personality, we're all retentive. That's why we work there! And we're almost retentive enough to be protective of our room and "team." I think that's why it feels so hard to break into the crowd/team. High school lunch table, anyone??

RNOTODAY, I am just now at my one year post-orientation. I totally understand it when you say that you want to be just as good as the more seasoned nurses, and to finally feel comfortable and confident. I am the same way.

Being on-call sorta pushes you over to the imaginary "fully competent" line that one creates for themself. I was surprised when I was on-call (and off orientation), showed up before my scrub, and picked the case by thinking through the whole procedure (it was a laparoscopy) and I was able to remember all the disposables, etc. It was like, "yeah, I'm an OR nurse."

It is an interesting dynamic in the OR, no? I think it's interesting that they always stress teamwork, and it's like after the case is over, you can't even step into the breakroom for fear they're talking about how poorly you did in the case! It's totally true what my preceptor told me once: You will get to know who it is that you can ask "silly" questions to and they won't tell everyone else you're an idiot. But choose wisely.

Just remember, everyone in the OR is not only a type-A personality, we're all retentive. That's why we work there! And we're almost retentive enough to be protective of our room and "team." I think that's why it feels so hard to break into the crowd/team. High school lunch table, anyone??

Totally. Wow, it feels so good to know that someone else has the same issues.....high school lunch table???? I have said that same thing many times....Me and a friend were talking about it the other day.. we are both from critical care backgrounds, and ER, but we never really encountered this "in crowd" thing..... I always heard people say how hard OR people are, they are a gruff bunch, need a tough skin, etc.... but I never really knew, obviously, until I experienced it. Why do you think that is? Someone said they are "intimidated" by new nurses, but I dont understand why??? Their jobs are secure, believe me....At times it seems so damn silly, like I think, who the hell are they, do I really wanna be around these people for 10 hrs a day? Then I snap out of it, because I love it....anyway.thanks for the encouragement. Can I ask your advice from time to time????

RN, we great minds think alike, huh? You can certainly ask for advice...it seems I learn best by making mistakes! I had one of those "full moon" days at work today. I think it's my first day like that in the OR. Every case I did had some major funky twist in it, whether it was a mechanical issue or human-induced operator error. That and our hospital wide paging system went on the fritz! On the plus side, my day flew by and I didn't get to spend much of it with the people from the cool table!!