Now that I landed an Ambulatory SC job... how can I prepare for it?

[shuubie]

Hello All! Recently I've posted about my job offer as a new grad at an ASC specializing in ophthalmology. Now that I've landed the job I'm very nervous! How can I prepare myself for work in the role of pre-op/op/post-op/discharge etc.? What websites/books are recommended? Any input is appreciated! Thanks

[evolvingrn, BSN, RN]

No clue! but congrats. im a new grad to and find myself refresing and researching after i get off my shift. maybe wait a few days and then see where your focus will be...but postop care would probably be a great thing to read up on.

[Argo]

AORN, association of operating room nurses, has a website that has plenty of reading on it.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Honestly, as a several-year employee of an ASC, I think that having the basics under your belt will be fine. All ASC's, and specialty centers in particular, are going to have "their" way of doing things and "their" treatment policies and procedures. The anesthesiologists and surgeons are likely to follow a pretty set routine of anesthestic agents and narcotics. Discharge plans will of course be very surgeon-specific, about which you can only learn on the job.

Maybe a generalized study of anesthetic agents and reversal agents, if you're really dying to study:)

[brownbook]

I am going to make a huge assumption that these are "routine" cataract or other "minor" eye surgeries. The patients are going to be baseline healthy and anesthesia will be very moderate. If my assumption is correct the biggest issue may be a quick turn over, i.e., your ability to keep up with paperwork, get the patient out the door within 1/2 hour. You can read about detailed assessments of patients after anesthesia. Realistically your assessment may be based on that they are sitting up talking about their golf game, i.e., they are A&O x 4, VSS, and no respiratory distress.

In pre-op your focus will be to dilate the pupil ASAP. If your clinic uses the usual variety of eye drops to dilate you must develop a routine to remember which drops you already gave. If you have 3 + vials of eye drops to give, you use one vial, set it down, pick up another, then set it down, then don't know which one you already gave!!!! Place them all in a tray and put the ones you already gave on the table top or counter, a different location.

There are 10 to 20 different eye drops and they all have 6 names each!!! Try to learn the names and actions of commonly used eye drops.