Former Med Device Sales Rep Turned RN Needing advice

[ED_RN52]

Hello Everyone!

First off, I want to just say I throughly love the OR Nursing specialities board! It's given great insight for new grad nurses. A little background on myself, ever since I can remember my dream was to become an OR nurse. I think this is in large part due to the fact a young age my twin sister was in and out of multiple surgeries and I wanted to make a difference in patient's lives how those nurses did for my twin sister.

I was originally a nursing student in my first bachelors degree in my schools first BSN graduating class. I felt at the end of my second medical surgical rotation I was not seeing what I wanted to see in order to handle the big hospitals up in Cleveland. Therefore I changed my degree to graduate and worked as a medical device sales rep in the Operating room for 2 years to gain clinical experience and save up for money to go back into an accelerated second degree nursing program. I graduate Aug 31 with my BSN degree.

As nurses, we are to always put patients first and to advocate for them. I truly believe a patient is at their most vulnerable point in the OR. To put it frankly, they're strapped down to a bed, naked, anxious, and fearful of the outcome of the procedure. This is where I feel I can do the most advocating for my patients. To be their voice when they cannot, to maintain a safe environment while they're under, and to champion for my patient's autonomy when situations are in question.

I have two interviews coming up with two major hospitals up in Cleveland for their Preoperative Nurse residency Programs. I would like to in the future receive my CNOR, become a CRNFA, and possibly thinking about CNS-CP.

My questions to all the OR nurses out there reading this is: if you could provide a new OR RN hopeful with advice on something you didn't know before starting your job as an OR nurse, that you know now? Would keeping a journal for doctor preferences be helpful? If you used any additional study tools other than AORN's Periop 101 to help prepare you during the lengthy orientation process? Ways to become the best OR RN you can be? Lastly, your OR specialty

I apologize for the length of this post! I couldn't help myself!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Hi Kaity52! If you check out the articles and FAQs tab on the OR forum page, you'll see some really good threads to read through. Tons of information from many points of view and experience. There's Tips for New OR Nurses and the ask us anything thread.

[DysrhythmiaRN11]

Firstly, Congrats to you!

I have been an OR nurse for 5 years now and the experience has been questionable at times. Its not for everyone, but my advice would be to be patient, you will learn with time. It takes about 3-4 years to become expert and even then you will never know everything but you will be able to function at ease with any case as long as you have your basic skills. Keeping you own Preference notes are useful at the beginning of your career but you will eventually venture away from that once comfortable.

Now, I have a question for you.... As a sales rep did you travel? If you did was there any restrictions as to who you could bring along with you on travel assignments? For example, if a partner wanted to come and paid for their own place ticket and stayed with you in hotel was that a problem for the company, would you be in trouble for bringing someone along on the business trip? Just a general question. Thanks in advance.