Cinnamongirl

Hi everyone- I am a new grad nurse with about 7 months of med/surg experience. I just got hired into the OR. Any tips for orientation? How to deal with doc's or preceptors when they are snippy? What do you thing is the toughest thing to learn/deal with in the OR? Thanks- CG

Thanks- I was able to do my shadow day and I really liked it. I am excited about applying for the OR.....wish me luck!

oh, one more thing. If you work in a hospital who is really interested in retaining their nurses, and trust your HR person, go talk to them. I did. Your HR person can possibly help direct you toward a better direction. Also, you can find out what classes your hospital offerst (ie, ekg interpretation, concious sedation, etc) to make yourself more marketable for different positions.

I asked this question alot while still in school and it always seemed to be split down the middle, half said yes, half said no. I have been struggling with this myself as I am on a busy med/surg (mostly surg) floor and don't really like it. I'm still in my 6 month period and also looking to transfer. I also have interest in the OR, outpatient, and clinical research. We have 6 at night, adults only, I can't imagine 7. Anything over 5 is too much, and 5 is too much if they are really sick. I don't know that bedside is right for me, either. I like patient contact, but I'm not one of those people that I feel it is the #1 reason for being a nurse. Everyone also keeps saying, "oh, give it a year, it will get better". Well, what if it doesn't? A year is a long time to waste being unhappy, especially if you feel your job is taking over your life. Does anyone know- can you go straight into ambulatory surgery from med/surg or do you need peri-op experience? Anyway, I digress- OP, the number one thing to know is you need to do what is best for you. If you aren't happy on your floor, go somewhere else if you can. It is all experience. You mentioned OR, I am also thinking of the OR, but know that some hospitals require 1.5-2 year contracts for their OR training programs. There are so many different types of nursing, it is hard to know what you will like until you are there. We will figure it out, hopefully sooner than later! Good luck!

Hi everyone- I am a new grad with almost 6 months of med-surg experience. I have an interest in the OR, but my experience in the OR so far has been limited to a 1 hour surgery I saw in nursing school. My hospital has a PONI program coming up, and I have contacted the OR nurse manager to set up a shadow day. The PONI sounds good- online class modules from the AORN cirriculum, 6 month orientation, etc. BUT, the hospital requires that you sign a 2 year contract if you are accepted into the PONI. Here is my dilemma, I think I would like the OR, but I am not sure that an 8-hour shadow day is really going to give me a full idea of the OR. What do you all think? I totally understand why the contract is required, I understand how expensive it is to train someone, but I'm kind of a committment phobe. Here is why I think I would like the OR: -the 1:1 patient ratio -I'm a detail person, something that the floor doesn't allow the luxury of -paying attention to detail.. -I like the immediacy of the OR, the idea of a person coming in and leaving- not the days and days you take care of someone on the floor. -I like that you are surrounded by others in the case that something goes wrong. Are these good thoughts for the OR or am I kidding myself? Is a two-year contract the norm for PONI programs? Thanks for any info/advice.

Hi everyone. I recently applied for and got an interview with a GI practice. I have 6 months of med/surg experience and no GI experience. The ad says "busy practice, you would be averaging 8 pts per hour" Is this an average load? Also, I am assuming I would be doing concious sedation/assisting with endoscopy, etc. Any advice/info is appreciated... Thanks-

were you in long enough that you got your LPN certificate? I went to an ADN program, and halfway through our program you could apply for the LPN exam. I would go this route if possible. Not only will you gain good experience that will help you as an RN, you will start out making more as a new RN b/c of your LPN experience. AND you could probably get your employer to help pay for your RN schooling. Good luck to you.

I agree, I think it varies from state to state, and even within different areas. I live in a large city, and there are about 20 hospitals within a 50 mile radius of the city. Each one hires differently. Some hire a group of new grads at one time 2-3 times per year. Some are able to take a new grad or two on a continuing basis. My recommendation would be to go to a hospital where you had clinicals and maybe talk to a nurse manager on a floor where you worked, and see how they hire. I recommend also going to each hospital you are interested in and meeting with the nurse recruiter and making a contact. I graduated in July 07 and started the search process in September. I felt like I would fill out these online applications and no one would ever see my resume, they would just see whether or not I fit the minimum requirements and toss my application aside. Nursing is just like any job, regardless of the so-callled shortage. How do you get that experience when you feel like you can't get your foot in the door to get that first job?! Don't get discouraged. Put the footwork in. Go in and meet people. Call back 2 weeks after submitting your application. And if you are financially able, hold out for the job you want! Don't do what I did and take the first job offer that you get because it is the ONLY job offer you get! Good luck!

Hi everyone- This is related to my recent post "quit my job after three months?" and for anyone who is working in a hospital and not sure floor nursing is right for them.... what is everyone's opinion on getting that almighty "year of med-surg experience"????? I recently met with a coworker-mentor and she strongly recommended that I try to stick it out for the year, that not having the year of med-surg experience will limit me for future jobs. What do you guys think. Is it really better to have a year of med-surg, or does it just depend on what you want to do?

Hi everyone. I'm thinking of quitting my job. I've only worked three months on a med/surg unit. My workplace isn't terrible, but I hate working nights (I feel like I'm sleeping my life away), and I hate the stress. Our ratios are too high and it seems like everyday there is something else we now have to do, nothing is ever good enough. I have recently seen jobs for endoscopy RN and Interventional Rad RN, and no experience requirments are listed (ie, "requires 1 year m/s exp") I didn't sign a contract, and I'm still in the 90 day probationary period. I just don't know. I feel bad for wanting to quit so soon, but in the past I have done what is best for my employers, but not what is best for me. Good loyalty, only for to myself!! I feel like I should jump on applying for these positions while they are around. I guess there is no harm in applying, right? If I am not selected, then at least I tried????? Thanks- CG

in my state, kaiser has the highest wages that I know of, starting salary is $25 an hour, and they also have great benefits. I would like to get on with kaiser myself after I put in my time on m/s. in CA, are there kaiser hospitals that offer this new grad training program?

Thanks, everyone, for all your insights, inputs and opinions! I guess the bottom line is, I still need to figure out what I want to be when I grow up! There are lots of things that interest me, like working in OR, for insurance companies, for research companies, etc. I acutally like doing paperwork. I just feel that dread of coming into the med/surg unit everyday already and know that for my own sanity I can only do it for 6mos to a year. I think any bachelor degree looks better than no bachelor's degree, and since I'm so close to the psych, it makes sense to get it. On the other hand, it also makes sense to start working on the BSN. I've even thought about a BS in healthcare administration. THe problem with the BSN is that it will take at minimun 4 semesters. I could probably finish the psych in 3. I just don't know!! Lately, I've thought about trying to meet with a career or life coach to help me figure out what the heck to do with my life!!!!!!!!!!

hey everyone, just wanted some opinions on this. I am a new grad, associate's prepared RN. I am close to coming off orientation on a med/surg unit. So far, I'm not loving floor nursing, and have been researching types of non-bedside jobs available to nurses. I'm also interested in the OR. So here is my question. When I started my nursing program, I was 4 classes short of a BS in psychology. I know that having a bachelors degree helps in getting other types of nursing jobs. Should I finish the the psych degree since I only have 4 classes left, or should I start on a BSN, which will take me much longer (1.5-2 years). I don't think I can stay on the med-surg unit long enough to finish the BSN! Help!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks Lily, for taking the time to share what you do. I've looked online, and alot of the job descriptions are really generic and don't go into much detail. I am thinking that I will try to see if I can shadow someone in the OR in the next couple months. THanks again!

Hi all! I am a new grad orienting on a general surgical unit....it has so far been my plan to stay on the unit for a year or so to get some good base experience and move on. I've thought about oncology some, but recently have been thing ALOT about OR, pre-op, or PACU. I have done some research on the internet as far as duties in the OR, but the information I have found hasn't really satisfied me. Can someone clue me in to the duties for scrub/circulating, etc. Also, do you like OR? Did you start out on a med/surg and move to OR, and was it a good choice? Sorry for all the questions, but I am not really loving my job on med/surg, so it is helping me to think about places I can transfer!!! THanks!