Perioperative Residency...........

Specialties Operating Room

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Specializes in Operating Room, Ortho, Neuro, Trauma.

I am a new grad and I start an OR residency next month. I am so excited. Any advice from preceptors or former grads who went through a perioperative residency. Specifically, this is a "Versant" program. I would love any feedback. I am thrilled to step into the world of PERIOPERATIVE nursing.

Thanks~

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Specializes in Operating Room, Ortho, Neuro, Trauma.

Well I am a licensed RN now and start my OR residency in a couple of days and I am thrilled! :clown:

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I am a new grad and I start an OR residency next month. I am so excited. Any advice from preceptors or former grads who went through a perioperative residency. Specifically, this is a "Versant" program. I would love any feedback. I am thrilled to step into the world of PERIOPERATIVE nursing.

Thanks~

I would keep a journal to record your cases. Also I would take home the doctors preference cards each day, and make notes on them. That way you can ask questions about all the misc. equipment and supplies involved. I would recommend a good Operating Room text, your course may provide or recommend one. Also, pictures of instruments are available online to help you get more familiar. In the beginning everything in the operating room is about familiarization. I would also suggest becoming an AORN member. The monthly magazine is included at it is excellent.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Operating Room, Ortho, Neuro, Trauma.

Thanks Jeff RN, I started this week, mostly hospital orientation. I have ordered the Alexanders book from AORN and I have joined their membership. My first taste of the OR does not come until next Friday with my preceptor whom I met during my 2nd interview and I really loved her!!! (I do have some knowledge of the OR b/c I was a ST B4 for several years, 14 years ago-I'm dusting the cobwebs off).

We are doing alot of classroom studies which I am OK with but can't wait to get into the OR!! This program "Versant" seems to come highly recommended and is supposed to be a wonder for new grads making the transition into the role of hospital nursing. There were 400 applicants for this residency and only 9 were accepted--yes I feel honored in a very humble way knowing the job market and all. I will keep you posted. I am so excited and have that giddy feeling when I go to work in the mornings! :nurse:

Thanks again!!

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Specializes in Operating Room, Ortho, Neuro, Trauma.

Well 4 weeks into my residency and I am spending most of the time in the OR. I am completely overwhelemed! I am so glad that I have a long orientation because there is no way I could get all this in a few months. It is a very fast paced environment, so much equipment, procedures I have never even heard of, etc. The easiest thing is the paperwork! I have the charting down (except maybe implants) with the equipment being so confusing that I feel almost stupid sometimes. I don't mind the pace at all because I like to stay busy but WOW....they were undraping the patient ready for the stretcher for PACU just when I was ready to start filling out my paperwork!

I have met some nice & helpful people who seem to care about me and my progress and take the time to help then there are others who could care less if I fall flat on my face. I have worked with surgeons who ignore you and look right through you and others who are nice and explain exactly how they like things--they actually understand that I am a newbie and I did not stay up all night memorizing their preference card because I knew they were coming all week. I had a surgeon say to me...."you're a new nurse? And they let you come to work in the OR?" I wanted to say "You're short and bald.....they actually let you operate?" Instead, I just smiled and told him yes what a wonderful opportunity this was for me.

I have only "co-circulated" a few services and look forward to experiencing more, however I think I know which area I would like to concentrate in when I am fully trained. There are many circulators that just do gyn rooms or neuro cases there. Here is a question to anyone that will answer: In your OR are there nurses that seem to concentrate in just one particular area or do they always do everything? I know it is good to be trained in everything, especially for when you have to take call.

So, to sum up, I love the OR, I find it very challenging and I have only come home once so far second guessing myself whether or not I could do it. I think it was the nerves but I will not give up! I know it takes a long time to get this whole OR/circulator nurse down so I will be at this a while.

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Specializes in OR, ER, Med-Surg, ICU, CCU, Home Health.
I have only "co-circulated" a few services and look forward to experiencing more, however I think I know which area I would like to concentrate in when I am fully trained. There are many circulators that just do gyn rooms or neuro cases there. Here is a question to anyone that will answer: In your OR are there nurses that seem to concentrate in just one particular area or do they always do everything? I know it is good to be trained in everything, especially for when you have to take call.

It depends on how the OR is set up. In larger OR's, teams are commonly found. In smaller OR's you made need to know everthing. I have worked in both. It is helpful to at least get an orientation to all the specialties to help you when you take call. It's hard to know everything. I don't think there's one of us out there that would make that claim, regardless of how much experience they have. Feeling comfortable in the OR is a process. Make sure you give yourself time. I tell all my preceptees that it will take a minimum of a year before they start feeling comfortable. If it happens sooner, great, but at least I hope they won't get discouraged and think they weren't meant for the OR.

Good luck to you. :D

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