nurse tech skills/job duties?

[holisticallyminded]

I've began speaking with a nursing recruiter about a tech position in an OR. I know that techs are able to perform any skills that they have been signed off for, however I have not actually performed some of those skills on real people yet. In my clinical experiences thus far (1st year), I have been able to observe/do some of the laboratory skills and not others (I think this is pretty normal). And I must admit that I don't feel totally comfortable saying that I have a skill until I've observed/assisted at least once on a live person (preferrably both several times over to just to say I'm on the right track).

Could anyone give advice on how to address this during the interview/hiring process? I am assuming that all skills will be learned on the job and that performing them in the student clinical experience is not as important (though helpful) in the long-term, as skills will be learned, un-learned and re-learned on the job. However, I would still like to know how to sound somewhat self-assured without appearing to lack confidence completely. Anybody work as a tech and can give feedback? Stories?

Thanks.

[gillytook]

When I got hired as a tech at my local hospital, part of the orientation was a check off on the skills that they requireds. Then I had to work with another tech and RN getting checked off on the skills on real patients. If there is a skill I am uncomfortable with, I ask another tech or one of the nurses to assist me.

These are the questions to ask your self about the skills you have learned. Do you understand why you take the steps that you do in the order that you do them? Do you understand the basic principals and patho/phys of the skills? Are you willing to admit and ask for help when you are uncomfortable or not knowledgable? When they hire you as a student with no prior on-the-job experience, they are aware of the fact that you probably have the knowledge with little to no real life experiance.

[holisticallyminded]

Thanks so much. That's exactly what I wanted to hear. I'm absolutely fine with asking for help; I just wanted an idea of what the general expectations are. I appreciate the response.

[ajr716]

What are the duties of an OR Nurse Tech? Currently, I am a first semester RN student, but come Decemeber I'll be applying for PT work. I spoke with a Nurse Manager in Surgery who suggested that OR would be the place for me since I am going into Nurse Anesthesia, yet I am unsure what all OR techs do. I don't want to jump into something that I don't have the skills/experience for, but I'm sure I will be trained in some way. Any ideas?