OR Nursing

[MachewRN]

So, I'm on my 3rd week as an extern in the OR. I really enjoy it, and for the most part everyone is really nice. I've got to see some very interesting surgeries including a total hip replacement this morning. I've pretty much been functioning as an assistant to the circulating nurse up to this point. I assist in setting up the sterile fields, help position the patient, hook up equipment, etc... I got to put in my first catheter the other day as well. It was a good experience, and since the patient was already unconscious I didn't get as nervous.

I could definately see myself working as a nurse in this facility when I graduate, but I'd rather be a scrub nurse than a circulating. This particular OR doesn't use scrub nurses. They instead use OR techs and PAs. I'm disappointed because I didn't think to ask this before starting the externship, and I'd like to get to scrub in sometime during my time here. The way the situation has been described to me is that they tried to use RNFAs but other people (PA's and techs) felt their toes were being stepped on. I'm not sure, but I think nurses have been involved in surgery longer than PAs and Techs have been in existence. Are we in danger of losing our position as in this area in nursing?

I will make the best of it though. It's a positive environment, and I'm learning a lot.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

Surgery techs have been around a long time. Many are LPN's who took extra training and went to surgery to work. Or that is what happened in this area. I know a few who have been doing it for over 20 years.

Nurses are in danger of losing several of the speciality areas we once considered our domain. There were too few at one time, facilities looked at ways to meet the need, found it, and now it is accepted that it does not always take a RN to do the job. Not the answer you wanted but truthful none the less. Beside, the facilities will always look for ways to cut costs. So having these people do the job may be cheaper.