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Specializes in Long term care, continuing care, acute.

I am new just like most of these threads start off, in an orthopaedic unit. I am not too sure what I should know going into it. I don't know what to study either! I am a CNA and my background is long term care. I would love too know if there is something you could tell me, or pass on too me!

Thank you!

:redpinkhe

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Welcome to the forum and best wishes on the ortho team!

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

You should get some kind of orientation. IF the patient is healthy and had elective surgery then you concentrate on keeping the joint in alignment and don't pull on it. Phy Therapy usually gets them up the first time so make sure you watch how. Ask questions of the docs, SIMPLE short questions not jabbering on about how much you don't know. For example is that the kind of dressing you always use on day 1, 2 or 3? Do you take the staples out before they go home? How much weight can they put on that leg. I believe you get the pattern here.

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Specializes in Long term care, continuing care, acute.

Thank you that is very helpful! Specially the questioning part. I tried observing Physio but they weren't so open to that, and didn't like that much haha, oh well. I have noticed alignment is huge and remembering all the ways too keep alignment is tough but it's a big part of the job.

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I don't know what to study either! I am a CNA and my background is long term care. I would love too know if there is something you could tell me, or pass on too me!

Thank you!

:redpinkhe

You may want to look at some of the articles on NAON site.

Its located here-

National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses

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