I posted this in general discussion as well.

[sandlewood_nurse]

Hello there,

I am an operating room nurse. So far I've had experience in two smaller hospitals and my experience has not been very good. I am a really fast learner and I'm an awsome team player. I work hard, I show up early to set up rooms, I'm willing to learn things on my own time etc etc. I just found there was so much anxiety. I've had so many rude preceptors who made me feel degraded by the way they spoke to me. I've had surgeons be nice to me (who are very rude), because the nurses are so hard on me.

I guess the point is, I did not like the fact that the nurses went out of their way to give me a hard time. I found that when the nurses who were patient with me and willing to teach me, and not get angry when I didn't get it right away, I learned more quickly, and we were much more efficient because there were not bad feelings, just work to do.

I go to work to work. I am friendly and I enjoy meeting all kinds of people. I however do not suck up or go out of my way. I did that first couple semesters and found taht I wasn't good at it anyhow since it was never really in my nature to be like that unless I really knew someone well and we already had a good rapport.

I want to know if all ORs are like this. I heard that its different in the bigger teaching hospitals. I heard that it is slower there because of the residents and therefore you get more time to learn things. Is that true, perhaps I should look into getting a job in a bigger hospital ?

I love OR nursing btw, but at this point I almost feel like going back to medsurg or trying something different. I don't like how the nurses act like they were just born OR nurses and treat me like I'm an idiot and degrade me infront of all the other staff members.

[morte, LPN, LVN]

I am a manager of a small rural hospital operating room in the midwest. After reading the posts, I have gained some valuable information from you all. I work in a similiar enviroment with people that have a variety of personalities that I have issues with. I have worked extremely hard for over a year to change the culture and just when I think things are getting better.:trout: I have tried to lead by example, have given verbal and written warnings, had everyone sign an agreement against such behavior and I am at a loss of how to make it better. I just hired a nurse from the ICU and she was beaten down into tears because of the treatment she has experienced while training. I now do not trust a single RN in my department except one to orient new people. I just don't understand why the staff would act this way to a new person who is going to alleviate some of their call burden. It is like shooting yourself in the foot.

Please help enlightment me on any suggestions, comments I might try to improve the situation.:uhoh21:

i dont thnk nurses are dif from other persons in this regard---hit them in the pocket book....ie suspend without pay

[Rezidentura]

I don't think managers should suspend nurse pay for anything but patient neglict or endangerment.

You want my advice? Set up a special meeting on a good non working day say Saturday afternoon. Buy a bunch of pizzas and some Soda or something. Lay it all out for them: Tell them you want to provide them with a healthy work environment where there call obligations are as minimal as possible. Tell them that the behavior that is being acted out is sabotaging your efforts. Acknowledge their skill and, hard work. Find out what their concerns are. Show them your concerned and not out to replace them or threaten their situations (O.R. nurses can be quite territorial, they want to be king of their hill and don't want to let any one else on it ).

IN all likelyhood you have already done this in some capacity. However, it sounds to me their is some communication problems that lie under your current situation.

[cicinurse]

Thanks for the input. I agree that suspension without pay is not the appropriate thing to do unless it is a patient safetly issue. I do believe that the behavior that I have seen and been reported to by a new nurse has created a hostile work enviroment which is not acceptable:angryfire I do feel sabotaged on many occassions but I want my OR to be an enviroment that will have nurses/techs beating down my door to come work in it. How to get there will be the challenges. I have tried the pizza lunch as well but it seems nothing works. I just keep pushing ahead and maybe something will work.

[zuzi]

i worked almost all my rn time like or in trauma. believe me or not was the most wonderful time in my carrier from now. in the first days (i came in or direct from the school) the “veterans” in or start to teach me but in the same time because i was so yellow chick, they made many jokes some ones good or some ones bad. yes some of or’s was arrogants, but you know after a little time these people was became the most trustful persons from or.

or is definitely a familiy and is hard to received a new member in family, if they will accept you easy you can asked by your self that something is wrong. so is normal to reject you in first moments is not easy neither from them to accept you. they know all routines, you not yet, they know each other, they know them families, children, they participate together on their children baptism, on children graduation, on them marriage, they have all their life their together. is normal that they are not trust in you, they saw thousands like you who comes in or and goes back because was not able to be in or team like all in all team member.

my advice: stay there, time by time they will be more trustful and they will show you trust and they will start to train you in a good way.

the last person that i expected to hug me when i left my country was the worst nightmare in or for everybody. so give them time and give your self also time to be an or nurse!

i missed so much my or team!

[chartleypj]

I am a manager of a small rural hospital operating room in the midwest. After reading the posts, I have gained some valuable information from you all. I work in a similiar enviroment with people that have a variety of personalities that I have issues with. I have worked extremely hard for over a year to change the culture and just when I think things are getting better.:trout: I have tried to lead by example, have given verbal and written warnings, had everyone sign an agreement against such behavior and I am at a loss of how to make it better. I just hired a nurse from the ICU and she was beaten down into tears because of the treatment she has experienced while training. I now do not trust a single RN in my department except one to orient new people. I just don't understand why the staff would act this way to a new person who is going to alleviate some of their call burden. It is like shooting yourself in the foot.

Please help enlightment me on any suggestions, comments I might try to improve the situation.:uhoh21:[/quote

I wish to commend you as an OR manager for trying to make your department pleasant for all of your staff. You mentioned that you have tried to change the culture. I agree that leading by example is wonderful, these staffers need some education as to what horozontal violence in the workplace is, why it exists, and it's impact on the department as a whole. It sound like the staff needs team building seminars, and they need to be confronted anytime any issue of horozontal violence is observed in the workplace. I would recommend a great book I just read by June Fabre entitled "Smart Nursing-How to create a positive work environment that empowers and retains nurses". I ordered mine thru barnes & noble, but I know you can also order it from her website.

I hope this helps.

Paula

[Picklednerd]

Im a student nurse planning on a career in OR, and I have to admit, I think I may be a type A But im a friendly type A! Ive heard about the 'strong personalities' and 'type As' alot in my research of the specialty... I wonder why OR staff often have type A personalities? Ill probably figure that out when I actually get in the environment, but what are your thoughts?

[Picklednerd]

OR are NOTORIOUS for having people that are "hard" if not "impossible" to get along with. They are very territorial. It is another world in the OR than being on a "floor" or other work area.

Most people who work in OR's are generally type A personalities...so do some research on that and you may find tips on how to deal with such difficult people. In general you will find these kind of people working anywhere you go but YES you will find more of them in the OR area.

But be glad there are people like this...would'nt you want a "per-snickity" person who is sometimes a royal _ _ _ _ _ taking care of you or someone who does'nt pay attention to detail? Trust me...even the loudest and rudest are ALL about the PAITENT and is'nt that what it is all about.

The OR atmosphere is'nt for everyone...but if you are enjoying it and like it the personality thing can be overcome either with you just ignoring it or maybe trying another hospital's OR where the faces are different.

Good luck. The OR is a special place to work and be a part of.

Sorry ppl, I was referring to this message by the way!

[mikethern]

>>

I totally disagree. Being rude and arrogant is NOT required to be an excellent nurse. The fact is that people in general these days lack manners. People are arrogant because they ENJOY acting that way. They like to feel superior.

[Picklednerd]

:yeahthat: Since it seems like there are alot of ppl like that in the OR, how do you deal with someone like that? I tend to get quite uptight when people are rude to me & have to say something eventually... However, it would be nice to know just the right thing to say - without sounding sensitive or defensive etc. Id like to be assertive in the OR.

[mikethern]

:yeahthat: Since it seems like there are alot of ppl like that in the OR, how do you deal with someone like that? I tend to get quite uptight when people are rude to me & have to say something eventually... However, it would be nice to know just the right thing to say - without sounding sensitive or defensive etc. Id like to be assertive in the OR.

There's a couple ways of dealing with this. You could wait until you are alone with the person and then ask her not to talk down to you again. Or, if the person if really pissing you off, during the case tell her during not to talk down to you.

If she decides to be your enemy, fine. I give no respect to people who talk down to me. Never talk to them unless it's part of the case. Don't even say hi to them when you pass them in the hallway. I give no respect to people who disrespect me.

You'd be surprised how people do not mess with you when you look angry and give them the silent treatment.

[Picklednerd]

You'd be surprised how people do not mess with you when you look angry and give them the silent treatment.

Especially when you're easygoing and get on well with everyone else, I guess! Thanks for the advice, I totally agree with you on all points. I know some ppl who are real 'butt-lickers', but its just not in my nature to be that way. I expect ppl to treat me the way I treat them, basically... We're professionals. I do understand that some ppl would wait & see if they can rely on you when the pressures on in an environment like the OR, but I dont believe that someone should be blocked out or 'tested'. I really want to feel like part of a team, not beaten down by a hostile environment... Its one of my main worries about OR nursing actually, especially when the new-grad placements are for a whole year! But I guess i'll just gather what knowledge I can, and move on if its not a good environment.