New Grads with no patient care experience in the O.R

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Joanni61

6 Posts

Specializes in O.R.

Exactly

Specializes in anesthesiology.
2 hours ago, Joanni61 said:

Thank you for responding. In our facility pre op nurses do start IVs and the O.R nurses do start IV on children CRNAS, which we have 2 only start them if all else fails, and intra op IVs do blow and sometimes if we run into issues with unexpected problems may occur i think experience does matter. IVs are not the only thing that to me is important. Experience in problems that can arise in an intense situation i feel is . Thank you for your responses

From your concerns, it seems the only thing one would get applicable experience on the med-surg unit (or any other place outside the OR) is IV starts (and on that floor you probably won't get very good at them anyways). Any experience outside of the OR is not applicable to amending a problem during surgery. You may learn how to handle medical and patient issues elsewhere in the hospital, but anesthesia handles that in the OR. Surgical equipment and logistics can only be learned on the job.

Specializes in anesthesiology.
1 hour ago, brownbook said:

It would be hard to disagree that when issues with unexpected problems arise in an OR you'd want a nurse who has some experience.

A rapid response, ED, ICU charge nurse whatever, how does this help in fixing surgical problems?

brownbook

3,413 Posts

I think just in generic terms a nurse with some experience with generic unexpected problems whether med/surg or OR, etc., may do better at simply not panicking and problem solving.

Specializes in anesthesiology.
2 minutes ago, brownbook said:

I think just in generic terms a nurse with some experience with generic unexpected problems whether med/surg or OR, etc., may do better at simply not panicking and problem solving.

Kind of my point though, the OR is not generic whatsoever and experience in other units are not applicable. The rest of the hospital will give you experience in managing medical patient issues. This is the job of anesthesia.

Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

I think new grads should go where they want to stay. It's better for everyone that way. Med surg floors shouldn't be full of new grads who leave in a year.

Specializes in OR/NP/RNFA.

9 times out of 10, the CRNA has got the problem covered if it's a patient crashing issue. When there's a problem, they have control of that ship. I just do what I can to help them (grabbing supplies, crash cart, etc. per their directions) The MDA will always appear and honestly, so will any free CRNA. You're never alone in the OR - scrubs can break sterile and the surgeons can fend for themselves if it's that emergent and there's no free staff.

In the OR you learn to read the room and if I'm scrubbing and feel like things are gonna go south (like your simple laparoscopy is threatening to open), I alert my Circulator to go ahead and grab stuff and have it nearby. If I'm the Circulator, I'm paying attention to the dynamics and grabbing supplies in anticipation. That's just part of learning the job like you would anywhere, OR or otherwise. Yes, the ED prepared me to think ahead but it didn't teach me what trays I would need for an emergent GI bleed versus an emergent hysterectomy.

But this is just my experience and everyone will have a variety of experiences of how things are done.

Specializes in OR.

I started my career (many moons ago) as a surgical tech and transitioned right into the OR. Over the years, I’ve dabbled in a few other things (ER, a post op surgical floor and even a brief (very) stint in ICU. I always come running back to the OR. Can I get through the the day in any area. Yeah. Am I happy and good at it it? Not so much.

I used to be firmly on the side of needing some med/surg experience. But as an above poster pointed out, why should the floors be filled with people who are newly minted and already planning to leave in a year. As the peri-op 101 program has become more widespread, my tune has changed. If an OR dept is willing to put in the money and the 6 months of training into crafting an OR nurse then the med surg time is probably unnecessary.

About the only time I might still recommend some floor time is if a person has come out of school, has zero healthcare background and does not have access to Peri op 101. That is more for learning time management and how to not be afraid of docs more than anything.

elanab27

15 Posts

Following! Interested in OR

brownbook

3,413 Posts

21 hours ago, murseman24 said:

Kind of my point though, the OR is not generic whatsoever and experience in other units are not applicable. The rest of the hospital will give you experience in managing medical patient issues. This is the job of anesthesia.

I would think anesthesia would like a nurse who can provide backup.

brownbook

3,413 Posts

20 hours ago, FolksBtrippin said:

I think new grads should go where they want to stay. It's better for everyone that way. Med surg floors shouldn't be full of new grads who leave in a year.

As a new grad I had absolutely no idea where I wanted to stay. Very few hospitals were hiring new grads. What would you have advised me to do?

I started out in med/surg and enjoyed it very much. I was asked to transfer to ICU after 5 years as I had floated there often. Almost every nursing job I’ve had I kind of fell into. There is no where I’d like to stay. I always enjoyed floating and working different areas of my hospital.

Specializes in anesthesiology.
2 hours ago, brownbook said:

I would think anesthesia would like a nurse who can provide backup.

Please explain to me how. Getting supplies and maybe starting another IV?

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