New Grad Operating Room Tips?

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Hi everyone! I’m going to be working in the OR as a new graduate this Summer. What are your best tips/advice for me? What do I need to learn now rather than later?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Shameless self promotion! ?

If you check out my blog in my AN profile, you can see all of the articles I’ve done over the years. 

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Specializes in Operating Room , Home Care Nurse , Nurse Educator.

Welcome to Nursing. And then welcome to The OR . Always have a small spiral pocket note pad . Make notes for each Surgeon’s preferences (outside of the facilities preference cards). Write everyone’s last name and titles next to their last names. Get to know the cases and make sure you and your Scrub person work in unity. Write down every incident, even when it has nothing to do with you.In Pre-Op check Patient’s Concent , Anesthesia one as well . Check for compression device stockings, etc. it’s a lot . But you’ll get the hand of it. I were a Surgical Tech prior to going back in the OR. I did all Specialties . It’s a great experience. You’ll enjoy it. Good luck!

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On 4/14/2021 at 6:46 AM, Rose_Queen said:

Shameless self promotion! ?

If you check out my blog in my AN profile, you can see all of the articles I’ve done over the years. 

Thank you for answering all my questions on here!! You're awesome. I'll check out the blog because I'm so excited for this specialty. I've been watching Youtube videos all day now about the OR, but there isn't much information out there (at least from when I'm trying to search)

On 4/14/2021 at 3:13 PM, MF1679 said:

Welcome to Nursing. And then welcome to The OR . Always have a small spiral pocket note pad . Make notes for each Surgeon’s preferences (outside of the facilities preference cards). Write everyone’s last name and titles next to their last names. Get to know the cases and make sure you and your Scrub person work in unity. Write down every incident, even when it has nothing to do with you.In Pre-Op check Patient’s Concent , Anesthesia one as well . Check for compression device stockings, etc. it’s a lot . But you’ll get the hand of it. I were a Surgical Tech prior to going back in the OR. I did all Specialties . It’s a great experience. You’ll enjoy it. Good luck!

By incidents, do you mean adverse incidents that happened in the OR by mistake?

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Specializes in Operating Room RN.

Welcome to the OR! ? 

As a new person, it's always nice to introduce yourself to your colleagues on the team, in the operating rooms, and even in the hallways. It's hard to remember names at first, but I think OR is a place where trust building is key. They will soon learn your name and your face! your work ethics and attitudes will tie with your name! 

Ask questions! ask your scrub nurse/tech to show you a thing or two, learn the procedures and the surgeons preference will come after you are comfortable breathing in the OR. 

Smile under your mask! people will know you show up to work with good attitudes, even though it's stressful there every moments.

 

Best of luck!  

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