Loneliness in the O.R.

Specialties CRNA

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Hello, I am an RT that will be returning back to school to finish up my BSN. I have always loved the idea of administering anesthetic's as a CRNA. I think it is a very cool and extremely rewarding career! Do you feel alone in the O.R.? Granted, you have a job to do. As a therapist, I have collegues that i can ask questions of and/or express my feelings about a certain situation. My fear is that since everyone in the O.R. is a physician except for the O.R. Nurse and yourselves, can you express to anyone about the case you just finished up? Obviously, if you work with a team of CRNA's that will work out, but what if your one of a handful of CRNA's in a group? I sometimes think, (please don't be offended) that as a CRNA everyone will be cold to me. I know as an RT, the very few times that I have stayed in the O.R. the personalities were extremely cold. I always felt as if I was in everyones way. I am just worried. If I don't like where I work, I cannot appreciate the job. To me enviroment plays a large role in my happiness.

Thanks for your replies,

Ken

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I often have a great itme in the O.R. Man up Ken or find another line of work Ed

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Man up Ken or find another line of work Ed

That wasn't very nice.

I think I know what you mean by this and I experienced it a few times as a nursing student. You felt like you were pushed aside and treated as if you weren't part of a team. The reason is probably just because you didn't know anyone nor did you relate to their role in the OR. Like I said I felt the same way the first couple times I went to the OR; people just don't want you to mess up their things if you don't know what you're doing in that environment (such as sterile fields, etc..) After I had been in the OR quite a bit and could let people know I knew what was going on and/or knew people I didn't feel so out of place. It's just an environment you're not used to and felt a little uncomfortable in. Don't sweat it; I'm sure you felt the same way during your first clinical rotation as an RT; or the first time you worked with a vent in front of a patient, or the first time you drew an ABG....

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It is kind of wierd in the OR once you are "in" then you are in, as a CRNA people just LOVE you if you do a good job, frequently you can set the mood in the room and may be the one to calm an irate surgeon down as he has zip to say about your job. It is great.

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Ken, your right, environment is everything when it comes to job satisfaction and it will vary from hospital to hospital and between groups. You need to shadow a few crna's to get an idea of whether it's right for you and how they deal with the different personalities.

Ed, lovely response

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Ken, there are more roles in the OR besides the surgeon and nurses. There are techs and perfusionists and sometimes interns, and transplant coordinators.

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Specializes in CRNA.
Hello, I am an RT that will be returning back to school to finish up my BSN. I have always loved the idea of administering anesthetic's as a CRNA. I think it is a very cool and extremely rewarding career! Do you feel alone in the O.R.? Granted, you have a job to do. As a therapist, I have collegues that i can ask questions of and/or express my feelings about a certain situation. My fear is that since everyone in the O.R. is a physician except for the O.R. Nurse and yourselves, can you express to anyone about the case you just finished up? Obviously, if you work with a team of CRNA's that will work out, but what if your one of a handful of CRNA's in a group? I sometimes think, (please don't be offended) that as a CRNA everyone will be cold to me. I know as an RT, the very few times that I have stayed in the O.R. the personalities were extremely cold. I always felt as if I was in everyones way. I am just worried. If I don't like where I work, I cannot appreciate the job. To me enviroment plays a large role in my happiness.

Thanks for your replies,

Ken

Can't say I have ever felt lonely in the OR before. Most of the time it is a lot of fun talking with the surgeons and other nurses in the OR. I don't think you should ever feel inferior to a surgeon though. Especially an Ortho dude.

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Specializes in Neuro, Anesthesia, CRNA.

I have never felt lonely in the OR. You have alot of interaction with the staff in the room. Yes you wont be interacting with other CRNA's that much but thats OK.

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I often have a great itme in the O.R. Man up Ken or find another line of work Ed

Well if you're working with someone like the above poser, it's going to be quite cold. However, there are ALL types of personalities in the OR. Some are very friendly and chatty, some are just focused, some are quiet. It really all depends.

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Cheez, I''m a pariah on this thread after a little tongue in cheek jibe. It's nice to be quoted! I have a great time at work and most of my fellow nurses faces light up when they see me walk in their room in the A.M. I'm no poser whatever that is and I treat my patients like gold and get along fine with coworkers. Been giving anes. for 25 years and made many a friend, none by cowering in the corner. Man up! Ed

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Specializes in CRNA.
Cheez, I''m a pariah on this thread after a little tongue in cheek jibe. It's nice to be quoted! I have a great time at work and most of my fellow nurses faces light up when they see me walk in their room in the A.M. I'm no poser whatever that is and I treat my patients like gold and get along fine with coworkers. Been giving anes. for 25 years and made many a friend, none by cowering in the corner. Man up! Ed

Good post man, could not agree more.

Inland18mempire, calling this dude a poser means that you have missed the boat. He is giving honest straightforward advice to someone who is considering anesthesia school. It is actually some valuable advice to have.

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Thanks RedCell. I guess two Reds make a White. RedEd

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