New grad in Ortho/neuro

italianrn07 · Nov 18, 2008

palmetto girl,

Ortho/Neuro is a specialized unit, but I think it would be a great place to start. You will learn a lot and use many nursing skills. The orthopedic patients we see are people who have hip or knee replacement surgery, have surgery to fix broken bones from falls, car accidents, etc. The orthopedic patients take a lot of time due to equipment and drains. The neuro patients we see are brain injury, brain tumors, spinal injury, migraines, back surgery, stroke patients. You will gain experience in skills such as feeding tubes, trachs, giving blood, and definitely organizing yourself. Ortho/Neuro can be a very busy unit, but well worth it. good luck!

palmettogirl · Nov 18, 2008

thank you...as "unglamorous" as it sounds, that's the kind of stuff I want to learn to do!

SanskeetRN · Nov 19, 2008

Congrats on the interview! I started as a new grad on ortho/neuro as well. At first it was a bit overwhelming but now I love it. On our floor we say we deal with backs, bones, brains and boobs (we also get plastic surgery pts as well) so you will see many different things.

The experience is invaluable. You will have geriatric to young adult and everthing in between. We have had 19 year old up to 104. You will get experience with new surgicals, trauma, stroke, TBI's, and alot of the patients have comorbidities so you will have some med/surg, and some have mental health issues so psych as well. All in all, it will give you a very rounded background and exposure to branch into almost any field.

phm191 · Nov 19, 2008

palmettogirl,

I started my first job as a RN in July on a similar unit, surgical care, which has ortho and other post op pts, and couldn't be more pleased with my choice! I am really enjoying the pt diversity of the unit and am learning a lot every time I step on the unit. I think it's a great choice! Good luck to you!

P_RN, ADN, RN · Jan 8, 2009

People with ortho problems most always have something for you in the medical realm. Total joint patients tend to be older so you have heart, lung etc assessments. Neuro patients are people too. If they have surgery you do the same post op as on a surgery floor. Make certain you get a preceptor or internship offer. Do not allow them to throw you out on the floor unprepared.

truliblessed · Feb 12, 2009

Hello everyone, In two weeks I will start my first RN job on an ortho floor. Just wondering what would be considered a safe patient:nurse ratio? Also, to have an edge is there anything I should know more about before I start on the floor.For example, special machines for ortho patients.

Thanks in advance

P_RN, ADN, RN · Feb 14, 2009

continuous passive motion machines for total knees. Some doc use them all the time, some docs never use them. You'll have to wait and see. Epidural pumps all kinds, all brands from tiny4 x 4" to 12 x 12 ginormous ones. Iv pumps, rolling walkers with wheels or with tennis balls, all kinds of slings and shoulder and knee immobilizer. Remember never try to figure something out. Get some good on hands instruction before you wind up doing it wrong. You'll have blood reinfusion systems, blood drains of all kinds, I could go one and on. Oh all kinds of cooling mechanisms from a glove filled with ice to an igloo cooler with a pump to recirculate ice water around the wound. Don't jump in without a GOOD preceptor and hang on her/his every word.

khirbz · Feb 21, 2009

I just had my first month in ortho ward and its been wonderful learning all those nursing cares that is only exclusive to orthopaedic wards. I've worked in medical surgical nursing before but its entirely different in ortho. I had a four week preceptorship program which I was able to gain confidence in working with ortho patients. In a few weeks from now I will gain more knowledge in the field of orthopedics and I'm liking it already...

truliblessed · Feb 22, 2009

Good to hear that because I ,too, will be starting on an all ortho floor in a week. What's the patient:nurse ratio where you work? I was told I wouldn't have more than 6 patients on the 3-11pm shift. I am really anxious to get started!

khirbz · Feb 23, 2009

Yes. Usually we have just 5 patients. Because when you get six its already very busy. I think its very busy because I'm just a little new but I think when I'll get a few months experience then thats the time I'll have a good time management and good prioritization. Goodluck on you first week.

mzthang581 · Feb 24, 2009

I am a new grad on a ortho floor. I just passed boards last week, but I have been on the floor now about 3 weeks and I really enjoy it! :) THe nurse to patient ratio on my floor is 1:4 and sometimes 1:5 for all the staff RNs.