New Grad CVOR Nurse - HELP!

[LittleLi]

I am a new grad and got a position in the CVOR. I wanted to be in the OR my entire time in school, that is why I went to nursing school - I do not want to work bedside. My pre-RN work experience includes being a surgical assistant for an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. That was in an outpatient office and was great, but wanted to expand my perioperative experience.

I have felt super lucky to have been offered this CVOR position, but I’m 2 weeks in and panicking. Every nurse I encounter is astonished I was even offered this job because it’s unheard of to be in the CVOR as a new grad. I definitely understand why. My orientation is slated to be 1 year long. I’m just extremely overwhelmed. I passed nursing school with extremely good grades and understand nursing concepts well, but in the OR you pretty much start fresh with your knowledge. I went from feeling overwhelmed in nursing school, to feeling overwhelmed studying for NCLEX, to feeling completely overwhelmed and incompetent in the OR. It feels like I know nothing and that’s so hard for me to get used to. I know it’s going to take time but I’m so overwhelmed I feel like I want to crawl in a hole. I guess I’m just asking for advice or success stories of new grads in the OR.

Thanks in advance!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

You are perfectly normal! And welcome to life behind the red line, where those who never cross just don’t know what happens. 

Yes, you will have that initial oh holy crap what have I gotten myself into and why aren’t I picking it up feeling. I’d be more concerned if you didn’t! The OR is just a completely different world. And it is going to take you at least a year to routinely feel like you are on solid ground. 

I started in the OR 17 years ago as a brand new grad. Im still in the OR, although no longer direct patient care- I am now teaching the next generation of nurses how to be an OR nurse. I have seen exactly what you are feeling in about 99% of new OR nurses. The 1% who didn’t… didn’t make it. Most of that 99% did. 

[LittleLi]

4 hours ago, Rose_Queen said:

You are perfectly normal! And welcome to life behind the red line, where those who never cross just don’t know what happens. 

Yes, you will have that initial oh holy crap what have I gotten myself into and why aren’t I picking it up feeling. I’d be more concerned if you didn’t! The OR is just a completely different world. And it is going to take you at least a year to routinely feel like you are on solid ground. 

I started in the OR 17 years ago as a brand new grad. Im still in the OR, although no longer direct patient care- I am now teaching the next generation of nurses how to be an OR nurse. I have seen exactly what you are feeling in about 99% of new OR nurses. The 1% who didn’t… didn’t make it. Most of that 99% did. 

You are so kind, I truly appreciate you taking the time to respond and say such encouraging words. I know I’m in for a huge learning curve and long road of training, but I will try to keep my eyes set on my goal, which is to become a nurse like you! Thank you.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

36 minutes ago, LittleLi said:

You are so kind, I truly appreciate you taking the time to respond and say such encouraging words. I know I’m in for a huge learning curve and long road of training, but I will try to keep my eyes set on my goal, which is to become a nurse like you! Thank you.

You're quite welcome! These are both my topics, but in one of them I've linked to some others- you may find them helpful.

 

[BAnursing]

Hi LittleLi, I am a few months into my OR orientation and feeling the same way as you in this post. My nursing school knowledge feels gone, things not clicking, feeling stupid, feeling behind etc. How are things going for you now? what have you learned as you progressed ? thank you!