Operating Room Nurses in Canada?

[peps007]

I graduated from a Canadian nursing school, but have done all of my hands-on training in the US. What is the role of the Operating Room nurse in Canada? Here, we use surgical techs to scrub, so the RN rarely ever gets to scrub. I hear its an all RN staff in Canadian ORs. I would love to move to Ontario and learn to proficiently scrub and circulate all services. Is this realistic?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Several provinces utilize OR techs, who are specially-trained LPNs. I believe their role is primarily circulating but I could be quite out in left field. Certain ORs (cardiovascular and neurosurgery) at my hospital only have RNs working in scrub and circulating roles. It would be possible to get your foot in the door if Ontario was actively hiring but right now there's a real dearth of jobs there.

[peps007]

I have four years full time operating room experience with glowing reviews from management. I have found just one hospital (didn't realize there was such a freeze) that had several OR positions. I'm going to apply and see what happens, but I don't want to work there if the RN circulates only as I have mastered that and need a different challenge. I do scrub minor cases (general surgery, plastics, minor vascular) so I wouldn't be completely starting the scrub role from scratch. Obviously I know positions, instruments, speciment handling, sterility, etc., so I have the advantage over a new grad or someone just now attempting transition into the service.

Thanks for your quick reply Janfrn. Out of curiosity, what is your OR exposure?

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Mine is limited to those procedures that are carried out on our unit. The OR team comes to the PICU, sets up, counts, the surgeon does his or her gig and then the OR staff tears down. They do sternal closures, mediastinal washouts, the occasional peritoneal washout, cannulation for ECMO and that's pretty much it. Our role as the PICU nurse is to pull meds for the intensivist who acts as anaethestist, adding extensions to our central line, drawing up volume and assisting the OR staff in whatever capacity is needed. And of course, cleanup.

[Fiona59]

The nurses in the ORs are crosstrained to circulate, scrub and assist the gasman as required (at least in AB). Usually the circulator assists. Every nurse is required to assist in the teardown when the surgery is finished.

The only requirement regarding staffing is one RN is required to be in the OR during the surgery.

The post diploma course for the OR is usually classroom followed by a preceptorship period. The course is the same for LPNs and RN, with the only difference being the RN students get a supervisory unit that the LPNs don't take. Only the RNs are eligible to join the national OR nurses organization. LPNs have their own OR group.

[ajaxgirl]

I graduated from a Canadian nursing school, but have done all of my hands-on training in the US. What is the role of the Operating Room nurse in Canada? Here, we use surgical techs to scrub, so the RN rarely ever gets to scrub. I hear its an all RN staff in Canadian ORs. I would love to move to Ontario and learn to proficiently scrub and circulate all services. Is this realistic?

I worked OR for 7 years in Ontario. Depends on the hospital whether they are all RN staff or not. It is a realistic goal if you want to scrub. Personally, I liked circulating better.

[ajaxgirl]

The nurses in the ORs are crosstrained to circulate, scrub and assist the gasman as required (at least in AB). Usually the circulator assists. Every nurse is required to assist in the teardown when the surgery is finished.

The only requirement regarding staffing is one RN is required to be in the OR during the surgery.

The post diploma course for the OR is usually classroom followed by a preceptorship period. The course is the same for LPNs and RN, with the only difference being the RN students get a supervisory unit that the LPNs don't take. Only the RNs are eligible to join the national OR nurses organization. LPNs have their own OR group.

There must be an RN circulator. There cannot be a RN scrub and RPN circulating. I have never seen it in my life.

[Fiona59]

Not in Alberta. We'd never find an RPN in an OR because they are Registered Psychiatric Nurses.

LPNs who have achieved ORT status can and do circulate.

[ajaxgirl]

Not in Alberta. We'd never find an RPN in an OR because they are Registered Psychiatric Nurses.

LPNs who have achieved ORT status can and do circulate.

I have only seen an RPN (LPN) circulate as a second circulator. Since they cant do anaesthesia induction-how can they be the sole circulator?

[Fiona59]

LPN/ORT in AB recieve the same education as the RN in the OR.

You just aren't up on the AB scopes of practice.

[ajaxgirl]

LPN/ORT in AB recieve the same education as the RN in the OR.

You just aren't up on the AB scopes of practice.

I thought the OP asked specifically about Ontario. She did. I said how it is in ON. The courses are different in ON. LPN/RPN would never be allowed to help with intubation--their course does not cover that. In ON RPN's scrub only.

Many hospitals have RN only OR staff. I have never ever seen an RPN circulate.

IN Alberta-having the have OR education does not make an RN equal to an LPN in the OR. The RN has a deeper scope of knowledge-obviously.

[peps007]

I worked OR for 7 years in Ontario. Depends on the hospital whether they are all RN staff or not. It is a realistic goal if you want to scrub. Personally, I liked circulating better.

So some operating rooms in ON are RN only? Can you please tell me which ones? Does this mean all the others use RPN/LVNs, or is there another role (ie. surgical tech, like we use in the US) also? I just want to get a feel for the staffing balance, so I can get an idea as to whether I would routinely get to scrub and not lose those skills, or if the hospitals will let 'cheaper' personnel do the job.