I"m Scared To Death To Scrub!

twinkerrs · Oct 15, 2008

I am just a dumb student, but here is my thought. If you dont feel like you learn after that short of an orientation could you ask them for one more day of orientation. I am sure you will do fine since you are used to being in there. You probably know a ton more than you think you do.

shodobe · Oct 15, 2008

Your NM is asking you to learn, not you approachinh her to learn. You need more than a few to learn good technique. I have scrubbed a few hundred or more until our L&D dept decided a long time ago to do them by themselves. It took awhile just to get them to have good sterile technique and even today after 12 years I have observed them and they are pretty terrible! So approach your NM and ask for at least a week, a dozen or so before being let loose. It sounds like they are in need of scrubs so you might have an advantage.

nursejohio, ASN, RN · Oct 15, 2008

No way would I subscribe to the 'see 1, do 1, teach 1' theory when it comes to scrubbing! Our hospital gives us a week to learn, there really is a lot of stuff you've gotta pick up, most of it totally different from being the circulating RN. Heck, even just learning to keep sterile while gloving up in a gown is complicated. No mind learning the instruments, what's used for what layers... OH, and lets not forget the ever popular crash section, or one with some sort of complication or bleeding issues :uhoh3:

NewNurseyGirl2009 · Oct 15, 2008

I am a scrub tech in OB. We had to watch 2 or 3 then do 10 on our own. I am still scared and i have been doing it 2 years. You will pick it up quickly just try to stay calm. I would approach your NM and tell her that you are not afraid of doing them but do not feel you would be safe without more training in and emergency. Crash sections suck and without proper confidence you can screw up and it can be deadly.

Logos · Oct 16, 2008

I'm a student nurse, last semester, (my second semester) we had our OB rotation. I went to L&D, there was a C-section- myself and another student were to watch, the Dr. looked at us and said why don't you scrub in and assist. So we did. Got our scrub learning right there from the circulating nurse, walked in hands up, backs to the wall and when the doc said I need someone here I stood right beside and he said suction and I started sucking up blood. It was awesome. The other student with me got sick & left but for me it was totally awesome. The pt was very obese so lot's of fat to get through, and the diff stitches and he kept cauterizing (?) veins I think they would smoke & some of them kept bleeding. But anyway the scrubbing was not a problem. I did not know some places had scrub training-what do they teach you that takes a week to learn?

Logos · Oct 16, 2008

Oh never mind I just reread post- you learned instruments- I was just sucking up blood- someone else was handing the doc instruments.

egarwo · Oct 16, 2008

there is no reason to be scared. it is alway better to ask question on things you do not remember it never too late to learn it is better to be save than never a little bit of orietation will not hurts

Scrubby · Oct 16, 2008

If you've circulated for years as you say then you shouldn't have problems with breaking the sterile field.

Ask to double scrub with someone experienced while you are learning. After a while of doing the same operation you will be able to anticipate what the surgeons will want next before being asked.

emmborn2trek · Oct 16, 2008

I been doing this 19 years but it took me 10years to feel comfortable enough not to hyperventalate. My advice is set up every table. If you feel comfortable with the placement of the instruments then you'll feel better. Also they may think they meaning doctors are gods but they are human. Tell them if they want a professional then hire one but until they do deal with me.