Advice for newbies in the OR

[umakemesmile]

I see alot of posts by ppl new to the OR or thinking about joining the OR, I'd like to help by posting a 'What life in the OR is like" post.

First, OR nursing is much different than floor nursing.

Keep an open mind. Things in the OR are constanly changing and you learn something new every day. I'm still learning this job after 16 yrs. I consider that one of the benies of the job! I like the ever changing enviroment of the OR. You never know what might come in the door next. You have to be felxible. The schedule can change at a moments notice.

:smackingf At first it might be overwhelming. So much info to learn and hopefully you have a good orientation program in place. OR's have the reputation of "eating their young" I never understood this. We are shooting ourselves in the foot. So seasoned RN's remember you were once there.

:typing Take notes. Those little spiral bound index cards are great. Write down Dr. preferences that aren't on the preference cards. If your facility is like mine alot of info doesn't make it to the cards in a timely manner.

Ask questions! When I'm precepting I like ?'s. That shows me your interested. I get frustrated when I don't see interest. For example:

I recently had a new RN who was more interested in talking and reading her e-mail during the case instead of paying attention to what was going on at the field. Your will eventually develop a "3rd" ear where you can do something else while listening to what's going on in the room. But, IT TAKES A LONG TIME before you get to that point.

I can be heading out the door to retrieve something before they ask just by listening to the talk at the field.

:pumpiron: It's a physically demanding job. Your moving equipment, pt's and running alot. If your on call and it's been a nuts day you have to keep going. At my facility we have a call team and a late team. If we have 3 rooms going at 3pm, we usually stay to finish the case. If we have an appointment after work, the facilitator tries to get us out. But, it doesn't always happen. I have had to cancel appointments.

I love my job and we have an awesome crew! You get to know ppl real well when you spend so much time with them. We joke that we spent the night with so and so. And most importantly WE HAVE FUN!! Gotta have fun, life's too short.

:groupwelcome: and sorry for being long winded. Hope I didn't paint a gloomy picture of the OR I just wanted to tell what to expect.

[CrazyScrubNurse, BSN, RN]

Here are my two cents also:

NEVER let'em see you cry!!!! The docs have high stress and sometimes are rude or short but don't let it get to you...in front of them at least. Then after a while they will feel like part of your group of friends or your family...after all we spend more time confined with them than our OWN family. Be strong, not timid! Never stop asking questions. You will be surprised what a little intrest in their surgery, and techniques can get ya!!!

[SemperFI]

Some nurses and surgeons are very mean. Be prepared for this.

After working 16 years in a professional office setting, the same could be said there. No matter where you go, there will ALWAYS be someone, or a group of someones, trying to trip you up....especially if they see you as a threat to them getting a promotion, raise, pats on the back, etc. Thanks to my father's influence, I'm ornery as hell in these types of situations. When I come across someone trying to play the "antagonist" role, I L-O-V-E to turn the tables on them. The more frustrated I make them, the happier I am. They eventually see that their "posturing" only serves MY interest and not theirs so they'll just stop altogether.

All things considered I'd rather not play this game at all, but if you're gonna yank a dog's chain, you gotta expect to get bitten.

[coteaux]

I am a new grad and I like to go to OR. I live in florida and all the OR job offer say " CNOR preferred". How do I get into a Perioperative nursing course. I tried to see if I can find one online but without success. Any advice?

[CrazyScrubNurse, BSN, RN]

Try www.AORN.org maybe they can help u