The final is actually easier than the individual exams. The Laser module really scared me and I thought the final would be as difficult. I wouldn't even study for it.
I am writing a paper on labor relations and policy. Is anyone out there who work in states that do not require a RN circulator in the room for each procedure? If yes, what is your experience like?
Looks like there's not much difference between community colleges and private schools and 4 year state schools. I was surprised to see that Regis has such low passing rate.
Well, it is not you. OR is a tough place for new nurses who do not have experience in the operating room. Many tough personalities in the operating room. I don't know why the operating room attracts these people. Perhaps others can put their 2 cents in.
If you educator does not have your interest in place, you need to work on your next plan. Unfortunately, it's tough to get a nursing job for new nurses now. Get at least a year under your belt and then leave this place. Learn what you can especially the latest technology (i.e. robot) and then say good-bye.
My hospital has 25 ORs and they are short of people sometimes. I remember getting assigned to a room or left in a room for various reasons after less than 2 months on the job. So your situation is not unusual. For a new nurse, it's probably better for you to start at a smaller facility where cases are less complex and the schedule does not change frequently. At larger facilites, the schedule changes all the time due to emergency surgeries and the norm is to expect the unexpected. You are in one room and next thing you are doing something else. On the other hand, you can learn a lot from larger hospitals and you will be more marketable in the future.
Had a very good discussion on the AST.org board. Where I used to work, I scrubbed a lot of eye cases. The turnover time is about 5 minutes. The cleaning crew does not come to clean the room. The surgical team pretty much takes care of the trash and opens the next case. It's crazy. That's why many people do not like eye cases. Also mistakes can be made with meds when everyone is rushing. I never circulated any eye cases and I would hate to have the meds mixed up with the quick turnaround.
If I go to ER or Med/Surg, I would feel the same way. We have many nurses from other areas and they are doing just fine. As long as you are a team player and willing to learn and work hard, you will be just fine. The personalites are tough but I am not sure if that's the same on the floor. Good luck. Remember you are not retarded no matter how they treat you.
Your scrub experience will be helpful. However, it seems like you went directly from scrub school to nursing school without actually working as a scrub tech. Some hospitals may expect more from you and will put into cases with the idea that you can scrub and circulate. Be honest in your interview. We had a nurse who has the same background as you and everyone is saying how he lied that he can scrub. In reality, he has only done so many cases as a student.
I may be off the topic here. I notice that my facility recently hired a few part-time nurses who already have jobs at other hospitals. For example, they work 3 days 12 hrs at one place and then come here for another 3 days 12 hrs or 2-12's. They are usually tired from working so many hours and not good team players. Yes, they have experience but they are lazy and they don't care if they lose this job because they have another job somewhere else. Why not fill these open slots with trainees who are willing and able to learn and give it all they got? Perhaps some of you who are managers can answer this one.
I will tell you what I tell all students who want "in" to the OR. Join the AORN as a student. Its about $20.00 and it will be the best $20 you will spend! They have local chapters, and you should start going to meetings and meeting OR ppl. They can help you get a job when you graduate if you impress as a student who has a real interest. Also, their monthly journal is worth the $20 just by itself. It is one of the best journals you will come across, and I am sure you will find interesting articles in their that you can use as citations for research papers in school.
Good luck!
Great idea. You will have access to the AORN web site as well and read past AORN journal articles.
This message is a little bit late since you probably have already scrubbed the case. You can go to AST.org (Association of Surgical Technologists) and do a search on their web site for articles. AORN.org also has articles for members.
Hope you had fun with the procedure. Great anatomy in those cases. Just make sure you have those lumbar sutures and the big cherry clamp ready.
Why should the hospital have to absorb the high cost of transitioning new grads across the wide gap between nursing school clinical experience (very limited!) and real-world nursing responsibilities? That's why I think the idea of residencies for nurses makes some sense. During the residency period, the new grad works for a much reduced wage in order to get the needed experience. The hospital gets an extra set of nursing hands for a low price. And after 6-9 months, having completed the residency, the new grad is now prepared to step into a full-fledged nursing role for regular, competitive wages. The trick to that, though, is trying to set it up so that nurse residents wouldn't be exploited.
I am a new grad who just finished a year of orientation at a Level II trauma center. When I was hired, my manager told me that it would cost the hospital about $200,000 to train me even though I had 4 years of OR experience. I also have experience in other fields where the cost of training is probably just as much if not more. I did not receive a lower pay just because I was a trainee. Unfortunately, the cost of running a hospital is extremely expensive due to liabilitiy issues and I agree that residency requirements should be required. That would make people think twice before coming into the field.
I just finished 11 months of orientation at a Level II trauma center with 25 OR's. I run my own room now and I can't believe how much I have learned. Here's my advice:
1. Don't argue whether you are right or wrong (unless the patient is in immediate danger ... you are the patient's advocate) ... remember in the back of your mind that you will run your own room when you are on your own. You will have the opportunity to develop your own practice.
2. Team work is very important ... can't stress how important it is to get along with others.
3. When someone offers to help you, don't be shy to accept help. Don't let your pride get in the way. The problem is that many newbies don't know what they don't know.
4. Always listen to others' suggestion whether it is coming from a MD or CST or support tech. Sometimes they can be wrong. Important to figure out for yourself what is right or wrong. Use the AORN recommended practice as your guide.
5. Finally, OR is not everyone. I am not trying to discourage you. I have seen many who have come and gone. If the OR is not right for you, don't be afraid to find other opportunities. That's what so great about nursing. You do have options.
Smith and Nephew has lot #'s on plates but not the screws. I like the idea of keeping track of lot number from autoclave (I don't think we do that now).
The final is actually easier than the individual exams. The Laser module really scared me and I thought the final would be as difficult. I wouldn't even study for it.
I am writing a paper on labor relations and policy. Is anyone out there who work in states that do not require a RN circulator in the room for each procedure? If yes, what is your experience like?
Thanks so much.
Looks like there's not much difference between community colleges and private schools and 4 year state schools. I was surprised to see that Regis has such low passing rate.
Well, it is not you. OR is a tough place for new nurses who do not have experience in the operating room. Many tough personalities in the operating room. I don't know why the operating room attracts these people. Perhaps others can put their 2 cents in.
If you educator does not have your interest in place, you need to work on your next plan. Unfortunately, it's tough to get a nursing job for new nurses now. Get at least a year under your belt and then leave this place. Learn what you can especially the latest technology (i.e. robot) and then say good-bye.
My hospital has 25 ORs and they are short of people sometimes. I remember getting assigned to a room or left in a room for various reasons after less than 2 months on the job. So your situation is not unusual. For a new nurse, it's probably better for you to start at a smaller facility where cases are less complex and the schedule does not change frequently. At larger facilites, the schedule changes all the time due to emergency surgeries and the norm is to expect the unexpected. You are in one room and next thing you are doing something else. On the other hand, you can learn a lot from larger hospitals and you will be more marketable in the future.
Had a very good discussion on the AST.org board. Where I used to work, I scrubbed a lot of eye cases. The turnover time is about 5 minutes. The cleaning crew does not come to clean the room. The surgical team pretty much takes care of the trash and opens the next case. It's crazy. That's why many people do not like eye cases. Also mistakes can be made with meds when everyone is rushing. I never circulated any eye cases and I would hate to have the meds mixed up with the quick turnaround.
If I go to ER or Med/Surg, I would feel the same way. We have many nurses from other areas and they are doing just fine. As long as you are a team player and willing to learn and work hard, you will be just fine. The personalites are tough but I am not sure if that's the same on the floor. Good luck. Remember you are not retarded no matter how they treat you.
Your scrub experience will be helpful. However, it seems like you went directly from scrub school to nursing school without actually working as a scrub tech. Some hospitals may expect more from you and will put into cases with the idea that you can scrub and circulate. Be honest in your interview. We had a nurse who has the same background as you and everyone is saying how he lied that he can scrub. In reality, he has only done so many cases as a student.
I may be off the topic here. I notice that my facility recently hired a few part-time nurses who already have jobs at other hospitals. For example, they work 3 days 12 hrs at one place and then come here for another 3 days 12 hrs or 2-12's. They are usually tired from working so many hours and not good team players. Yes, they have experience but they are lazy and they don't care if they lose this job because they have another job somewhere else. Why not fill these open slots with trainees who are willing and able to learn and give it all they got? Perhaps some of you who are managers can answer this one.
Congrats! Now what are you going to do with the BSN? MSN?
Great idea. You will have access to the AORN web site as well and read past AORN journal articles.
This message is a little bit late since you probably have already scrubbed the case. You can go to AST.org (Association of Surgical Technologists) and do a search on their web site for articles. AORN.org also has articles for members.
Hope you had fun with the procedure. Great anatomy in those cases. Just make sure you have those lumbar sutures and the big cherry clamp ready.
I am a new grad who just finished a year of orientation at a Level II trauma center. When I was hired, my manager told me that it would cost the hospital about $200,000 to train me even though I had 4 years of OR experience. I also have experience in other fields where the cost of training is probably just as much if not more. I did not receive a lower pay just because I was a trainee. Unfortunately, the cost of running a hospital is extremely expensive due to liabilitiy issues and I agree that residency requirements should be required. That would make people think twice before coming into the field.
You will find lots of info here:
https://allnurses.com/operating-room-nursing/
Good luck.
I just finished 11 months of orientation at a Level II trauma center with 25 OR's. I run my own room now and I can't believe how much I have learned. Here's my advice:
1. Don't argue whether you are right or wrong (unless the patient is in immediate danger ... you are the patient's advocate) ... remember in the back of your mind that you will run your own room when you are on your own. You will have the opportunity to develop your own practice.
2. Team work is very important ... can't stress how important it is to get along with others.
3. When someone offers to help you, don't be shy to accept help. Don't let your pride get in the way. The problem is that many newbies don't know what they don't know.
4. Always listen to others' suggestion whether it is coming from a MD or CST or support tech. Sometimes they can be wrong. Important to figure out for yourself what is right or wrong. Use the AORN recommended practice as your guide.
5. Finally, OR is not everyone. I am not trying to discourage you. I have seen many who have come and gone. If the OR is not right for you, don't be afraid to find other opportunities. That's what so great about nursing. You do have options.
Congrats on your new journey!
Smith and Nephew has lot #'s on plates but not the screws. I like the idea of keeping track of lot number from autoclave (I don't think we do that now).