Chloe07

Thank you very much for your help! Chloe

I too only had a couple of days in the OR during nursing school (I graduated May 2006). I really enjoyed the short time I had there and thought I would give the OR a try as my first job. I like working in a team and am super organized, so from first glance - it looked like a good place for me. The nurses were really welcoming to me and encouraged me to apply. The large research hospital in my town was hiring new graduates and had many, many openings. Personally, I wish I had spent more time observing before taking the position because I have come to realize over the last year that the OR is not a good fit for me. There was no way for me to know that, though, with the limited exposure I received. However, other new grads who started here at the same time and didn't have any OR experience really, really like it. Could you ask to spend some time shadowing before accepting a position? Talk to the nurses who actually work in that particular OR (not all ORs are the same), both the nurses who have been there for a while and new hires. Ask the hard questions why there are so many openings? We have a team that has very, very high turnover and they are constantly hiring - all of the nurses who have left have said (at least among the other nurses) that it is because the surgeons on that particular team are very difficult to work with (ie, they throw things, yell, etc). Think about what kind of work environment you thrive in and what you liked/didn't like about each of your clinicals. For example, I did not like my ICU clinicals, mostly because of the intensity and patient acuity, and I knew I would not be a good ICU nurse. I have come to feel that our OR, and my specialty in particular, is also often a very intense environment. I don't enjoy, and don't perform, my best when working in that kind of atmosphere. This was something I did not pick up on from my 2 days of observing. However, some people really like the adrenalin rush, not to mention working with state of the art technology, the best surgeons, fabulous hours, etc. There are a lot of good things about the OR - and it can be a wonderful place to work - but it is not for everyone. Our OR orientation is 6-9 months long - longer than most floors, so that is also something to take into consideration. You have to start somewhere, right? If all else fails, and you are still unsure, if there is a position and they are open to a new graduate (some ORs are not) I would encourage you to try it. You may find your home there - some nurses on my team have been there for 25+ years. If you find that the OR is not the best place for you - that's okay. Learn all that you can while you are there - it will serve you well in other areas of nursing. Best of luck to you. Let us know what you decide. Chloe

caliotter3 - Where do you recommend looking for flu clinic positions? Thank you Chloe

I have a job offer with a Hemodialysis unit at a large Midwest teaching hospital where I work and am trying to decide whether to accept it or not. The job would float inpatient (RN only) to outpatient (RNs and techs) + call. I graduated last May via an accelerated BSN program (this is my second bachelor's and I am in my 30s). I have been working in the operating room since last year. I am interested in a position with a lot more patient contact (and a little less surgeon contact), and I enjoy working with technology. I spoke to the nurse manager and a veteran dialysis nurse and told them my background - beside 800+ clinical hours in nursing school and my work as a CNA during school - I don't have other patient care experience as an RN (like in med surg or tele or ICU). Both said that although this experience would be helpful, it's not necessary and they thought I would do fine. I have read the other posts pertaining to this subject, and although I am not a completely new grad -the OR is so very, very different from the floor. I don't want to provide unsafe care, be a burden on the other nurses and techs, or set myself up for failure. I am willing to learn and am a good team player. I think I will be a very good nurse in the right area and I thought Dialysis might be a good fit, but after reading some of the advice here I am beginning to have second thoughts. I am just wondering if any of you have trained an RN who has not had a med surg/ICU background or if anyone has gone into dialysis with an OR background and has done well? Thank you.

I agree with you completely, mcmike55. I'm a new nurse (although an older one - this is my second career) and am beginning to realize that the OR is probably not the best place for me. However, I can't say enough good about the nurses on my team. They are wonderfully supportive, knowledgeable and very encouraging. I am finding it hard enough to learn in such a stressful environment with all the support, much less if I felt attacked by my own colleagues! I work part-time. Although I was very grateful to my nurse manager for letting me work 50% so I could be home with my little boy more, in hindsight - it's really not the best way to learn in the OR. There's just too much to absorb and sometimes I only work 2 days per week - I feel like I am starting from scratch some weeks, which compounds the stress. I can understand why your manager wanted you full time for the moment. That's wonderful that you love OR nursing, Sandlewood - I wish I did! I am at a large teaching hospital and I do find that the residents slow things up quite a bit, which gives me a little extra time. IF you like the OR hang in there - there are good OR teams out there - maybe you can be a change for the better in your OR.

Thank you for all the advice and encouragement! I really appreciate it. Chloe

I was in a similar situation just a few months ago. I was hired full-time (days) but have a 10 month old baby boy at home that I missed so much. He's in daycare - and although I really like the woman - it's still daycare. About a month after I started the job (I'm a new grad, by the way, with absolutely no experience) I made an appointment to speak to my manager. I was just very honest with her - told her I wanted to stay working in the OR (I was still in orientation), but that I also wanted to be home more with my little boy and was there anything we could work out? She said she would hate to lose me and would rather have me at 50% then not have me at all, so she let me go to part time. I said thank you and had her sign the paperwork before she could change her mind! I am sooo glad I did - I love being home with him, but it's also nice to get out of the house those days I work. I think working part-time is the best of both worlds - even though my orientation will take forever now. It's worth it. I don't think it would hurt to talk to your manger. If she says no, at least she will know your concerns/wants and possibly could work something out for you in the future. If I had not asked, I would still be full-time and wishing I had tried to do something about it. If my nm had said no - I would have stayed for the meantime but at least kept my eyes open for a pt position. Your litle girl will only have one childhood - spend as much time with her as you can, especially if you can afford to not work full time. Let us know what happens! Chloe

Thank you for the words of encouragement. I haven't said anything to my nm or educator - I want to give it more time to see if it gets better. I had a really good day today and my preceptor said I did awesome (although I still feel pretty clueless and made my share of mistakes!). It's just helpful to know that this is pretty normal and to hear that it will get better. It gives me hope. Thanks for the advice about what I can do to make the job easier.

I am writing to request some advice from other OR nurses. I am wondering if the challenges/frustrations I am dealing with are fairly normal - especially for a new nurse - or if it's an indication that the OR is a not a great fit for me. I am a 2nd career nurse (BSN last May), so this is not my first professional job - but it is by far the most challenging job I have ever had. I started in the OR in August at a large teaching hospital. These are the challenges: 1) The amount of information I have to learn. It's overwhelming at times. I try to take notes, listen, and focus - and some days I feel like I am making some progress, but our service is huge and there are many different kinds of surgeries to learn. I am still on orientation (I'm part-time so it will take me longer) and there are many days that I wonder how I could have possibly handled a situation if my preceptor wasn't there. Honestly, the thought of being on my own and taking call makes me sick to my stomach. After six months on a job - even part time - I usually feel comfortable. I just don't in the OR. 2) I find learning in a fish bowl difficult at times. Although I do my best to just jump in there as much as I can, ask questions and remember that the residents are also learning, being picked apart in front of others can be discouraging. 3) I understand that surgery is stressful, and I try not to take it personally when the doctors and residents are (or seem) rude and condescending. I guess one of the reasons I wanted to try the OR is because I thought it was a team atmosphere and I love working in a team, but it usually doesn't feel like a team to me. I feel like a handmaiden sometimes and really wonder if the doctors understand and/or appreciate what the nurses do? Maybe they do see us as team members but because of the intensity of the OR and my own inexperience, I miss it. On the upside, I adore my preceptor. She is very kind, competent and patient - never loses her cool with me. She said I will be a wonderful OR nurse and is very encouraging. I like our team's nurse manager and ANM - they seem to care about the team. The NM especially has been very good to me and I don't want to take advantage of the opportunity she's given me. For the state I live in the pay is fine and the benefits are wonderful. We have a union, but we also have mandatory overtime. I'm not saying I hate it or I am leaving tomorrow. I want to do well and also want to enjoy working in the OR. I am just having a tough time right now and am trying to sort through my frustration to see what is just normal, first year as a nurse, learning in the OR is tough - or is it possible I am in the wrong place for my strengths/weaknesses? Any thoughts for those who have had some of the same challenges and persevered or left the OR? Anyone else new and wondering if this is the right place for them too?