when did you have your OR clinicals?

ParvulusPuella · Apr 10, 2012

In my ADN program, we didn't have a specific clinical for OR. During one of our med-surg rotations, we had one clinical day that we went and observed in the OR. That was the extent of it.

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Apr 10, 2012

In my ADN program, we didn't have a specific clinical for OR. During one of our med-surg rotations, we had one clinical day that we went and observed in the OR. That was the extent of it.

Ours was very similar. In all of our hospital rotations we'd be divided up: one would go to OB, one to ER, a couple to surgery, etc. We never had an entire "unit" on peds, or a semester in psych, etc. Personally, I loved it the way we did it! Kept it very interesting

loriangel14, RN · Apr 10, 2012

We never had an OR clinical.

jmdRN · Apr 10, 2012

Hmmm... we had 1 OR day during Med-Surg I, one during Med-surg II, 1 during Maternity/ob (well, 1 "labour" day, I got to see 2 c-births and 1 vag.. so 2 OR's that day).

And during our Ambulatory Care clinical, I was assigned to a Day Surg unit, and had 1 day where I got to see the OR, but mostly I was in the pre-op area.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2012

We didn't have an OR clinical. We observed for one day as part of our OB rotation (saw C-sections and GYN surgeries) but that was it. We also did one Med-surg clinical day in PACU.

There really isn't anything for nursing students to do in the OR except watch. It doesn't make sense to have an entire clinical where all you can do is stand and watch surgery.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Apr 10, 2012

i actually scrubbed in once, but all i did was stand next to the scrub nurse and watch. had a summer job in an or and learned a lot from the nurses there, but no full semester scrubbing/circulating to learn the job. i think that went out in the 70s, largely.

jusstme · Apr 10, 2012

Thank you everyone for all the responses. I attended nursing school in another country (Philippines) and we have an OR theory class which is like intro to the OR instruments nursing duties ect. But i was wondering since In the US there is no OR class when do you have your rotations if any. Turns out its mostly during your MS subject some OB for the cs surgeries. I applied for my Nclex almost a year ago and recently got a letter saying they wanted all of my OR rotations completed within the semester we had OR subject. This makes no sense to me because we have our med surg classes the following semesters which is where you gain knowledge to specific disorders/diseases/illnesses. Pre and post op nursing care which is specific to each case.

anonymousstudent · Apr 10, 2012

In my ADN program, we didn't have a specific clinical for OR. During one of our med-surg rotations, we had one clinical day that we went and observed in the OR. That was the extent of it.

This is exactly how my ADN program is too. My CI this term (last!!!!!! woohoo!!!!!) is awesome and said she'd arrange for us to go down to the OR again, so I'm pretty excited.

elkpark · Apr 10, 2012

I attended a hospital-based diploma school. We had a separate OR rotation (3 months) -- one day a week of class, and four days/week of clinical (8 hour shifts); 3 weeks circulating, and 3 weeks scrubbing. We could pass instruments and circulate competently at an entry level when we graduated.

QuarterLife88, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 10, 2012

I'm in an ADN program. We have no OR rotation - I have Med-Surg I right now though, and my CI arranged for me to go to the OR for a day a few weeks ago, as well as a day in ICU.

ICU>>>OR

OR was boring as heck for me, but I loved ICU. Maybe because it was knee surgeries and those aren't very exciting. Eh.

netglow, ASN, RN · Apr 11, 2012

If you want to do stuff, you need to prove yourselves worthy when in clinical.

I got to see several different surgeries, 2 of which being hearts. I impressed the OR coordinator by correctly answering some questions, and he asked me what I wanted to see. I looked at the board and said the CABG/Valve for one of the surgeries. He showed me the video of the cath and quizzed me again, and he told me I could go ask the surgeon. I did, by walking up to him holding my hand out to shake his, introducing myself, and asking if I could observe. He looked at the coordinator who gave a thumbs up and off we went. It was great, everybody explaining things and asking me questions during the surgery. I learned loads, I am an A&P freak.

The next week I was in the middle of my ICU rotation and saw the surgeon on my unit and went over again to him to say hello and thank him, again. He told me to come down to surgery because he had another case, now that I was up in ICU. So, I asked my instructor who looked like a deer in headlights (LOL). Off I went again. This time I took the anesthesiologists spot (when he was not actively working) and was literally right over the patient's heart looking down. I got to bring MY patient up to the ICU and help in all that goes on post CABG/Valve, which is just amazing. I'll note that this surgeon, I later found has a reputation of not being too friendly. So, you do need to know some stuff, I think, or find out you are not wanted...

The point? Be cool, study up, and then INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND ASK!