New to Ortho

[ava'smomRN]

Hello All! I am new to this forum b/c I never found a reason to explore i, however i was just hired as a CNA on a ortopedic floor and I am looking for ay info about the feild as far as rn duties and cna. i would really like to be educated about the patiens i will see and the kind of care they will need. so any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Ortho_RN]

Well get ready to work... :)

I started out as a Aide on an Ortho floor... We mainly get Total Hip Replacements and Total Knee surgeries, but you can get just about anything... Rotator Cuff repair, broken arms, legs, ankles.. The only things we didn't get were back related things, they went to a neuro floor.

I think Ortho is a hard floor.. You have patients that lots of times are total care patients. If your person has a broken hip and is in Bucks Traction they can't get up to the bathroom, so they rely on you. What shift will you be working?? To me that makes a big difference.. Day shift has it rough with all the baths, etc.

Its a good floor.. I work on it now as a RN... Good Luck

[ava'smomRN]

thanks! i will be working 3-11 reguarly but my schedule will be flexible because i will be a full-time student. also this is a full time position. do you think this will be possible (75/hr work week and full time student?) im a little apprehensive. what do you think?

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

75 hours a week!!? I hope you mean per 2 weeks.

I did ortho for 22 years. I loved Ortho. My back did not. I had to retire due to a disabling back injury. Be careful!

One thing I REALLY liked at least about our floor was the patients rarely DIE! We had maybe 6 deaths a year and usually those were medical or trauma patients . I really can't think of many who had elective surgery.

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

75 hours a week!!? I hope you mean per 2 weeks.

I did ortho for 22 years. I loved Ortho. My back did not. I had to retire due to a disabling back injury. Be careful!

One thing I REALLY liked at least about our floor was the patients rarely DIE! We had maybe 6 deaths a year and usually those were medical or trauma patients . I really can't think of many who had elective surgery.

[KimRN03]

What are you going to school for? Nursing? If you are, school and working that much as an aide may be difficult. I was an aide on an Ortho floor and now am an RN there and my first year of nursing school I could only work 24 hours per week, my final year of nursing school I only worked 16 hours per week. You may be different, try it and see how it works out. Most hospitals are willing to cut back on your hours if you think you need to.