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

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Recently in the O.R.where i work there has been discussion about new grads with no patient care experience working in this area. Many of my coworkers as well as I feel they need med surg experience at least 1 year. I know the new trend is they should . I personally and others feel they should first learn assessment skills ,learning to assess the full body starting I.Vs learning basic skills before venturing into this unit. I personally feel its putting the staff in an awkward position as well as the new grad.

Specializes in Endoscopy/Operating room.

I graduated last April '19 and went directly into the OR. The hospital I work for requires a 6 month periop 101 program offered through AORN. During this time I had the privilege of working with nurses that had previously worked on the floor. I was eager for their perspective on things I didn't quite understand. But, the truth is that they were in the same position I was and also felt like a fish out of water, suggesting that their previous floor experience offered little to no help in the periop environment. I was honored to experience this program with nurses from all backgrounds but, I do not feel that floor experience is necessary in the OR because it is so highly specialized.

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Specializes in O.R.

I'm sorry I'm sure you are a great nurse I apologize the o.r. is different I hear they are putting the grads on the front line they have no one else this is not right for sure but hats off to them

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1 hour ago, Joanni61 said:

I'm sorry I'm sure you are a great nurse I apologize the o.r. is different I hear they are putting the grads on the front line they have no one else this is not right for sure but hats off to them

Every specialty is different, but a structured orientation is crucial for success of a new grad in any department. When I interviewed for the OR position that was one of the questions I had for the managers, what kind of training was in place to help transition from a new nurse to a competent OR nurse. The answers I got about what to expect were incongruous with what I experienced.

Specializes in O.R.

Again I'm sorry for what u went through I really am orientation with the wrong people leave a lasting impression thats what I didn't want and I knew would happen if u need to talk I'm here

Specializes in Perioperative nursing.

It has been almost a full month since the lockdown began here in Indiana, and we are doing three to four cases a day. Us Periop 101 students have been allowed to stay in the OR so we can continue training. I feel bad reading some of the replies on this threat about the lackluster orientation experience that some of you have had to go through. I have been in the OR for 3 months and I am beginning to feel confident to be able to circulate independently. There is still so much that I do not know, but in time I will get there.

Specializes in Student.

"I have been in the OR for 3 months and I am beginning to feel confident to be able to circulate independently. There is still so much that I do not know, but in time I will get there."

I am a Dec. 2020 grad looking at going directly to OR. What kind of prep did you do prior to your training period at your facility? And what kind of background did you have prior to nursing school? I have all this time before I graduate and am wondering if there is something I could be doing in my spare time to "help the transition" as they say; study surgical terms, familiarize myself with operation types, study pictures of the typical tools? Just curious!

Specializes in Perioperative nursing.

Hey 2020 grad ? One thing that I did that I felt impressed my employer during my interview was letting them know that I joined AORN while I was still in school to start familiarizing myself with terminology and procedures. AORN has a student membership that is only 20 bucks a year and I found it extremely valuable.

I knew from the moment I got accepted into nursing school where I wanted to be. I found out who the nursing manager for my local hospital's OR was and started communicating with her as my graduation approached.

As far as my 3 month comment goes, I didn't mean to sound overconfident, the case would be successful, but it wouldn't be as smooth as it needs to be heh.

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Specializes in Student.

Thanks for the tip Ruzan. Just looked at AORN's website and it definitely looks like it will help. What did you find most helpful on their website prior to graduation? I see access to journals, webinars, ORNurselink, etc... Any direction or input you can give would be much appreciated! There's a lot there.

Specializes in Perioperative nursing.

Mostly I browsed the articles and took advantage of the continuing education opportunities (free, BTW). Plus, when you join, you are automatically signed up to join the ANA (American Nurses Association), which also has some benefits.

Nothing will prepare you for the shock of interoperative nursing. It's such a different world than what we are used to, but I love it so much. Call your local hospital after Covid has settled and ask if you can shadow a circulating nurse.

2 hours ago, Joanni61 said:

Again I'm sorry for what u went through I really am orientation with the wrong people leave a lasting impression thats what I didn't want and I knew would happen if u need to talk I'm here

No doubt about impressions, but it didn't sour me on the OR, I just have a new perspective about what to look for when I apply to ANY position in the future.

In my interviews for a position I've applied to since I resigned, my questions about training and orientation were more effective at getting details about the process. From here on if there isn't a solid structured plan that's already been in place for a while, that has a history I can look into, I'm just going to pass on it.

Specializes in orthopedics, traumatology and ophthalmology.

I do think that new grads can be properly trained right off the bat in the OR if there is a support system in place to help them grow and thrive.

I share what the co-worker says. the operating room is a particular place, not easy but not impossible. Even young graduates can learn. they must be lucky enough to meet other experienced co-workers who can teach them.

Specializes in OR.

I got to OR via the med-surg floor, first as a new grad, then after a stint as a night charge RN. I wanted to switch to a surgery floor for a change up and ended up in the OR. For years I thought all nurses going to OR should have at least a year on med-surg for the grounding it gives you...until I met a nursing student who broke that mold. Many students that shadow OR nurses look sorely out of place, not comfortable. This one didn't-she was excited about every case, never 'in the way' and by the end of the week, was actually scrubbed handing instruments on a simple case...amazing! It turns out she was a police officer in her former career, so that helped, but some people are just made for the OR and this was one of them. I happily recommended her to an OR training program in July of the year she graduated.

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