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Discussion

I suck

First off let's face facts. Operating room nursing is not for the sensitive, there are such strong emotions/personalities that come with the nurses that work there and I just feel like I'm not cut out to be one of them. I feel like I'm dangling between being a ***** and being a doormat I know no ones perfect but I keep making little mistakes that I take very hard and it seems like everyone is talking about it behind my back. I do the best I can for my patients but there always seem to be issues that I haven't come across that everyone thinks I should automatically know about. I'm really getting down on myself and wondering why even got into this profession. This is the very first nursing job I ever got so I know with that comes added and extra pressure because I have no basis of which to form a foundation. I'm taking the superhard I want to be the best nurse I can be and my patients do appreciate it I've gotten letters from them but I just feel like my coworkers are making it so hard. Does anyone have any tips to try to thrive and keep my chin up? Or should I just cut ties and try to find somewhere that will take a nurse that has no other experience?

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    • Experts

    We need a little more information.

    1. How long have you been working there? Are you still on orientation ... or have you successfully completed orientation already?

    2. What kind of feedback have you gotten from your preceptors, manager, etc.? How do THEY think you are doing?

    3. Do you really like OR nursing? Do you enjoy the work itself? Or did you just take this job because it was the only one you could get? Would you like the job if you felt supported and liked by your coworkers?

    We need that type of information to give you good advice.

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    The OR is notorious for its tough crowds. They are a very cohesive group, when you are on call you have to know you can trust your on-call team. One false move and A break in sterility can screw the whole case up.😳That being said, perhaps you just need more time and experience. I did a stint in the OR......I too felt I was too sensitive for the OR crowd. Some of the nurses and techs were very territorial and some of the surgeons were haughty, condescending and just plain mean.I felt there was a certain amount of hazing going on. They definitely stick to their own. This can be good once The crowd trusts you. The question is are you willing to stick it out long enough to find out?

    On a positive note, I learned a lot and there were very nice people as well. And there was always good food around!

    Anyway, kudos to you for receiving a letter from patient. I always thought that OR nursing allowed for very little patient contact. So for you to get a letter speaks volumes!

    Like the previous poster said, get some feedback from your preceptor and nurse manager. Try to grow a thicker skin. Each little mistake you learn from. You will never do it again. Before you know it you will be running the show! That is if you want it bad enough!

    Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

    Wendy

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    • Author

    [COLOR=#000000]1. I've worked in the OR two years, I hadn't done any nursing anywhere else or in any other field other than being a nurse aide. I completed my six month orientation and passed Periop 101. [/COLOR]

    2. I haven't got any negative feedback from anyone in management or to my face from my fellow nurses both in PACU, Day Sugery. Some of them also have commented on my treatment from the other RNs and told me I can vent to them.

    3. I do like OR nursing, but do miss the patient interaction. I like helping my patients feel calm, making that connection in the small amount of time allotted. I like the challenge of it. But I won't lie, I would you like the job if I felt supported by my coworkers. But I always seem to be the only one going in rooms to help my fellow coworkers settle a patient before intubation, and when I want a little extra set of hands some have commented that I need to be by myself and "learn." I'm the only one restocking rooms, which I obviously want to do because I don't want to be running when there are no supplies in the room! But I feel taken advantage of being the only one doing so, I'm trying to learn not to "count" I guess on others to help me out as I do them.

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    • Author

    Thanks babynurse :) I know it made my day that the patient wrote me a letter and sent a separate one to management thanking me for the care I gave her before her surgery

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    • Experts

    It sounds to me like you don't really suck ... you're just working with some non-supportive colleagues. That's a totally different problem Since you seem to be confident and have the support of your management and some senior staff members, I recommend sticking it out a bit longer. The existing staff will probably get used to having you around eventually and move on to something (or someone) else to focus on.

    It sounds like you have identified some people in your work environment that you can go to for support. Use them. Maintain your friendships with them and let them help you get over this bump in the road.

    Good luck.

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    I think if you're feeling this way after two years, maybe it wouldn't hurt to try something different.

    Have you considered PACU?

    And by the way, I doubt that you suck. :-)

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    Some of us hold ourselves to an impossible standard. When we fall below that standard we feel like losers.

    I constantly have to face that reality and forgive myself for not being perfect.

    Is it possible that the OP is the one expecting the unreasonable, or is it her coworkers?

    When I make a mistake, I make myself feel more miserable than any 10 of my coworkers ever could.

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    • Author

    Thank you I feel a little stupid for putting this statement out, but this outpouring from my fellow nurses really has made me feel better. Thanks to all for indulging me and helping me to feel better. I just feel so stupid for even complaining! Is it really as big a deal as I feel it is to feel overwhelmed by my lazy coworkers? I feel whenever I get started on this tangent that I become a drama queen. I feel as if I completely bend over backwards for my patients and my fellow staff members. But honestly! I am the only one who stocks the department, I am always there to help another out by settling their patient during induction and to help them at extubation. I am there for them to take a specimen down or give a break to someone but I am always overlooked. I love my hospital too but I really feel as if I am in an abusive relationship and making excuses, "It'll get better, it's not always like this..." etc. Just thinking about it again makes me stressed LOL

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