OR nursing and back injuries

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Hello, everyone.

I'd like to first thank you all for the advice I have received thus far.

I have scored preliminary interviews with 2 area OR training programs. Both seem to be good programs, last 6+ months, and have the general 2 year commitment beyond that.

My question is, what are your thoughts regarding OR nursing as an option for those of us former ICU nurses that wound up with a back injury? My injury was back in 2006; I only had a torn annulus and it healed, but I have had a lot of pain since.

I went through PT and was told I had serious core weakness. I have been working with a trainer the past 1.5 years but still have pain every day.

From what I have read about the circulating role, it seems like there is a lot less lifting than a direct patient care role.

Can you let me know how much lifting is involved with circulating? And are you setting up and positioning the patient alone, or with help?

I appreciate your time, and wish me luck!

2ndChance

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Some patient positioning is done as a group, including moving a patient onto the OR table and then back on to their bed, or turning them prone or lateral. Other things are done individually like holding and prepping legs and arms (you will be amazed how heavy someones leg is when they are asleep). There are also heavy instrument trays to be lifted and insanely heavy equipment to be pushed around. Aside from lifting there is a lot of bending over and picking things up, climbing under the OR table and if you scrub long periods of time standing in one spot. I have never worked in the ICU so I can't say if it is comparable. Hope that helps.

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You're moving patients a lot and lifting pretty heavy equipment.... I would really not encourage this to someone with a back injury...

There is lots and lots of heavy lifting... Bending... Crawling... Etc.

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Thanks for all the info, guys. I have a phone interview tomorrow and I am wondering if I should just be really honest about my concerns regarding my back. I realize they won't hire me if they know about it, but I don't want to go back to taking 9 ibuprofen a day and getting another ulcer...

Thanks a lot for your time!

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I injured myself ten months ago in the OR. A herniated disc whine result in surgery. This all from wearing an 15-18 puffs

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I have worked in both areas. There is NO way the OR is less physical, in fact it may be more so. Think about wearing lead all day. I do a lot more heavy lifting of instruments and moving of equipment than I did in the ICU. I rarely had to go under the bed to move things... it is an every day occurrence in the OR. You don't always have a surgeon who helps to move a patient. Patients can wake up crazy, I have had to lay across someone's legs to keep them safe more times than I can count (safety straps are not foolproof). Most ORs have an on call schedule. You will be up all night. That takes a physical toll. Ask to shadow and see what you think.

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Specializes in NICU.

I had an OR clinical rotation in nursing school. I observed 3 ortho cases back to back. I wore a lead apron the whole time. My back and feet were sore.

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What is "an 15-18 puffs"?

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Sorry. 15-18 puffs was supposed to be 15-18 lbs of lead. I did not work for 7 months. I have been on return to work program for that past 4 months. Still cannot do my duties without pain. I am unsure that I will ever be able to scrub for any great length of time. The OR is very hard on your back.

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