OR rotation

[brokenroads27]

i had an OR rotation recently and i was really excited for it. however, afterwards i knew it was not the specialty for me. i thought it was boring at times, especially because all i did for both surgeries was stand there. i felt kind of deflated because i thought i was really going to like it. did anyone else feel this way, with this rotation or another one maybe? i feel like im the odd one out because everyone always thinks surgery is so cool and some other people in my group said they loved the OR. but i definitely didnt feel that way. i prefer more patient interaction.

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

Some surgeries can be boring for students. At my hospital the school's clinical instructor is always keen to get students in to seee open heart surgeries. I guess they think that there is something really cool about saying that you saw one of those, but the reality is that they are bone-crushingly boring for a student. Once the case is set up and running, there is a gap in the middle where there is really nothing for a student to do or see. Then an other flurry at the end. I think better cases for students to see are the smaller cases, where there is an opportunity to tag along for patient interview and assessment pre-op, and/or bit lap cases where there is a lot of anatomy to be seen on the video screen. What cases did you see?

Even if the OR isn't for you, that's OK. The beautiful thing about nursing is that if one thing doesn't float your boat, there is always another specialty.

[NSALVADORE]

I understand where you're coming from! I don't enjoy OR *nursing* but I love the time spent in the OR because I enjoy watching the surgeries. Know what I mean? I prefer more interaction with my patients as well :)

[Rednights]

I saw one CABG for like an hour, I got at the right time and they let me stand above the patient as they began attach the graft to fix the LAD. But yes, OR nurse is very very different ... I came out feeling the same as you, not for me.

[brokenroads27]

it was cool, don't get me wrong. i was standing SO close for the one case and that was awesome. it was also great that the surgeon told me every single thing she was doing, she was so good about that. i like the blood and gore (even though that sounds kind of harsh) of medicine but this experience was not satisfying, if that makes sense. i came out of it thinking, "wow i learned a lot but man was that ever overwhelming!" not only that, but i just had a feeling it wasnt for me when it was all said and done. thanks guys!

[mammac5]

OR didn't do a thing for me, either. I like the people contact...you know, the NICE people! :)

[rbytsdy]

I just did my OR rotation today and thought the same thing. While the surgeries are really cool, the actual nursing is really boring. I stood for 2.5 hours watching a hernia repair. Again - it was cool to see but I'm not sure about making that a career. I noticed that it's a "hurry up and wait" sort of mentality. Before the surgery begin, the nurse has a lot to do in order to get things ready. At the end, she has a lot to do again. But in between, there is a lot of standing around.

Have you thought about ambulatory surgery? Those procedures are usually much quicker so I would think that the pace is faster. I think I would enjoy that. :)

[LETRN]

I liked the OR because I love gore, but I think it would be terribly boring to be an OR nurse. Especially to be the circulator...I need more stimulation than counting sponges and charting vital signs.

[Meredith09]

Haven't been there yet, but I'm totally with you on the whole surgery thing... zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[itsmejuli]

While in LPN school I did a couple of OR rotations, not for me. Neither was OB, peds, med/surg, or orthopedics. I start the RN program in August and will do it all again.

Not every nurse wants to or has to work in a hospital.

[murphyle, BSN, RN]

I come from a long family background of perioperative nursing, so I'm probably a bit biased - but observing OR nursing as a student is absolutely nothing like working in the OR as a nurse. As a student observer, you guys are all absolutely right in saying that most cases are very, very boring. (Ambulatory's no better, BTW - watching eight or nine inguinal hernia repairs in a row will try anyone's soul...) However, to actually work that case as a scrub or circulator, you're constantly busy, and not just counting sharps and sponges. That goes double if you undertake training to be an RN First Assistant, because then you're actually involved in the case (suturing, etc) instead of just passing instruments.

If you ever decide to give perioperative another try, ask the charge nurse and the surgeon if they'll "bundle" you (wrap you in a sterile gown such that your arms are confined out of the surgical site) and let you right up to the table. You can see far more from there than you can from the foot of the table or behind the ether screen, and you'll have a much better idea of what the OR staff are actually doing.

Best of luck to you all!

[melmarie23, MSN, RN]

I enjoyed my CVOR (saw a CABG) rotation. Yeah, it as a lot of standing (6+ hours!) but I was absolutely fascinated. I think what fascinated me the most were the nurses. They were hands in the chest and knew exactly what the surgeon wanted/needed without him even speaking. It was like watching a symphony-nothing but each person working in complete concert with one another. It was really beautiful IMO.