New Grad Day Surgery OR Nurse

[MrPlow]

Hey guys I just graduated a few weeks ago and was offered a job to work in day surgery in the ward area and I gladly accepted as there were very few jobs going around, But yesterday I got a phone call saying I have to be transferred to the theatre section of day surgery.

This is stressing me out as I have very little experience working in the OR setting and i'm really nervous to start.

Any Day surgery OR nurses have any advice on how things are like in there?

Thanks again :)

[ILUVFLRN]

As a new grad, I too, accepted a job (only offer I had) in the OR at a trauma II hospital. After completing an intense 6 month training program, I am now working as an OR RN with a highly skilled surgical team. The environment is extremely stressful and face-paced and each and every day is challenging but I love what I do and wouldn't want to work anywhere else. It is very rewarding to know that your surgical team has tremendous trust in you as their OR nurse. Good luck and no doubt you will be a wonderful addition to the OR!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Be ready to work at a fast pace. Many day surgery procedures are short, and the goal is to get 'em in, get 'em out! and get the next one in.

Be ready to do homework. If you know what your cases are for the next day, see if you can get copies of the preference cards to go over at home the night before.

Keep a little notebook. This can contain notes that are "common knowledge" that aren't on the preference cards, such as where to find certain supplies or that Dr. X likes this radio station.

Take a look around the OR forum. This is a question that is often asked by those new to the specialty, and others have given numerous tips that I can't recall off the top of my head. You may find those threads beneficial.