just got hired into the OR- any tips?

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Hi everyone-

I am a new grad nurse with about 7 months of med/surg experience. I just got hired into the OR.

Any tips for orientation? How to deal with doc's or preceptors when they are snippy?

What do you thing is the toughest thing to learn/deal with in the OR?

Thanks-

CG

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Here is from the patients point of view:

I am assuming you are talking about the OR itself.

Meet the patient before you are in the OR if allowable. Let them know what you will be doing for them, in a basic way.

If you will be there through the whole procedure let the patient know this, it will help them to relax to at least know someone, other then the surgeon, who will be there.

If it seems appropriate hold the patients hand while they are going to sleep.

These are things that have always helped me.

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For me the toughest thing has been the sheer volume of stuff to learn:names,sizes,locations and different varieties of hundreds of sutures,dressings, instruments,instrument sets, etc. Different setups and patient positioning for each procedure. Different Doc's preferences. Tons of new staff names to learn. It just goes on and on--I used to tell people it was trying to drink from a fire hose.

Virtually NONE of this will be what you learned in nursing school or on the floor either. I had a BIG advantage since I was a practicing podiatrist for nearly 30 years before I went to the OR so I already knew about sutures, many of the instruments and also had working relationships with quite a few of the surgeons who I had shared patients with. It has STILL been a lot to learn.

On the plus side, I've had the time of my life this past year! I just love the OR and can't imagine working just about anywhere else.

Be patient with yourself and don't expect to know everything right away. Ask a LOT of questions! Talk to the other nurses, the techs, anesthesia staff, the Docs (most of them won't bite:chuckle).Be prepared for a really rewarding career.

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Specializes in OR.

Check out this thread:

https://allnurses.com/forums/f39/circulating-222321.html

Most of it won't make any sense to you yet but it has great basic advice for the OR. I just completed my 1st year in the OR and it was a rollercoaster ride. The first six months were an absolute blur. It's a completely overwhelming environment and there were days I went home and cried. But, I did it!! I can't tell you how many people told me I had to give it an entire year before giving up. There were 5 nurses in my original start group and three of us made it. We all love it and can't imagine doing any other kind of nursing right now.

Stick with it.

Stop and take a deep breath when it becomes too much to handle.

Excuse yourself from the room if you need to cry. (Never let them see you cry!!) This applies only if another nurse if present, of course.

If someone is telling how to do something and it contradicts another way you've been taugh do not argue with them. Simply ask your nurse educator after the fact to clarify proper technique/protocol. People do things in many different ways. As long as they're not breaking technique or protocol it's ok to put their own spin on something.

Enjoy the ride :bugeyes:

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Specializes in OR.

Oops. Posted to wrong thread :uhoh21:

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