maeyken

maeyken has 4 years experience and specializes in Operating Room (and a bit of med/surg).

maeyken's Latest Activity

1. 

   Changing jobs

   maeyken replied to FlyOR's topic in Operating Room

   In the OR I work in, people who come new to the OR have to complete their orientation period and I think about 3mos full time, and then can go part time (that's about 6mos full time). We have been really short of part time staff though, so those were open postings they were accepted into. Are there part time positions available in your unit? If there are, it might be easier to convince your manager to let you go part time. Really, you'd think it would be better to have someone go part time than to leave completely...
2. 

   Local without sedation

   maeyken replied to linda2097's topic in Operating Room

   We have a minor procedure area where we do small cases under local only. (no anesthetist, only one nurse and the surgeon). There is no option for sedation here, so if a surgeon thinks their patient can't handle it, they have to book it in the main OR. We do cystoscopy, carpal tunnel, trigger finger release, many little "lumps and bumps" removals (lipomas, potential skin cancers, moles, etc), some smaller ENT things (occ. myringotomy, polyp remvoal, etc).
3. 

   What kind of surgeon performs fingernail surgery?

   maeyken replied to linda2097's topic in Operating Room

   We have a couple family docs who come in to do the occasional ingrown toenail. I've never seen a plastic surgeon do an ingrown fingernail, but I suppose they could. I would think that a family doc could do it in their office though!
4. 

   Need your OR knowledge.....patient from clinic or other facility to OR???

   maeyken replied to staceyp413's topic in Operating Room

   ANY outside cases go through ER whether they come from another hospital, a doctor's office, clinic, etc. If we're not ready for them, and they have a bed, then they go to the floor to wait for us. :)
5. 

   Surgical Safety Checklist

   maeyken replied to konacactus's topic in Operating Room

   we're working on implementing it... so much resistance from surgeons!!! They don't seem to understand that it's not something the nurses dreamed up... this is the WHO telling them to do it!
6. 

   What to do after graduation- I really want to be an OR nurse

   maeyken replied to kfarinato's topic in Operating Room

   the only reason i can think of to stay at your hospital would be for seniority, but if you are just starting as an RN I don't know if you would retain any of that seniority. if you don't, there's no reason to stay.
7. 

   Anesthesia Gas Making Me Tired in the OR???

   maeyken replied to e-dice's topic in Operating Room

   The only time I've been affected by gas in the OR is when we're inducing kids by mask. As they go through the excitation phase they wiggle a lot and sometimes we get more of the gas than they do! haha not really but it seems that way sometimes!! Once the circuit is hooked up, the machine takes care of the gasses (as explained above) I am often tired after work, especially after working a 10h shift, or an evening shift. It's an exhausting job, especially when you first start! Your body should get used to it eventually! Just make sure you are getting a good night's sleep. :)
8. 

   How many hours can you work ?

   maeyken replied to OR male nurse's topic in Operating Room

   Wow, I didn't realize how lucky we are where I work. We're staffed 24/7, (for weekends/holidays- 3 on days, evenings, 2 on nights) The only call we do is one person from day shift will take call for evening shift, and one person from evening shift will take call for nights. So if you would need to stay or get called back, it would be 16h working. But then some people do doubles when we're short and that's definitely 16h.
9. 

   "TIME BACK" vs. Overtime $$ pay

   maeyken replied to Paws4K9s's topic in Operating Room

   We too have 10h shifts, but we are staffed 24/7. We have a choice of whether to bank the time, or take the money. We do a fair amount of OT, but it is counted as such. Doesn't make management happy, but it's that or cancel more cases (which they don't want us to do either...)
10. 

    OR Lasers, Info Please

    maeyken replied to mcmike55's topic in Operating Room

    All our fibers are disposable. I think we have a couple old re-usable (sterilized!!) ones kicking around. But NEVER unsterile! And as for leaving the laser unattended?!?! Huge NO NO! We have RNs trained in lasers, and have our own holmium, CO2, and greenlight lasers. I can't imagine any of them leaving a laser unattended. It wouldn't be allowed! That rep must not value his job at all.
11. 

    OR reference textbooks?

    maeyken replied to Ordered Chaos's topic in Operating Room

    We used Alexander's in my course... and the standards binder of course!!
12. 

    age range for HCG?

    maeyken replied to linda2097's topic in Operating Room

    I don't know of a specific age. Pretty much everyone who is going for a hysterectomy has one done, either urine or blood. (unless for example they have no ovaries already... or something like that). Also done for endometrial ablations, etc. Not done routinely for non-gyne surgeries.
13. 

    Colonoscopy - sterile water or tap water?

    maeyken replied to CDNORRN's topic in Operating Room

    Many of our colonoscopies in the OR are done for laparoscopic bowel resections... and so the water could technically leak into the abdomen if the anastamosis site is not sealed. Also, like someone else mentioned, sterile water is distilled, so no build-up in scopes.
14. 

    Colonoscopy - sterile water or tap water?

    maeyken replied to CDNORRN's topic in Operating Room

    sterile water. not sure what they use in endo.
15. 

    punishment for not having an H&P

    maeyken replied to linda2097's topic in Operating Room

    We need an H&P before we enter the room as well. If it is missing the doc has to go fill it out before the patient leaves say surgery. We don't have any punishments like that though. I'm not sure what they would do... probably just a verbal reprimand or something. It doesn't really happen that I know of. I think your hospital needs a better system...
16. 

    Specializing in Ortho

    maeyken replied to NurseLumpia's topic in Operating Room

    It's great that they're impressed with your skills. However, I personally would want more experience in a broad range of services before committing to one. I would at very least ask to finish my orientation through the remainder of the services. I don't know how your on-shift and on-call time works, but if there's any chace you'll be working outside the ortho department it would be good for you to have your basic skills down in all services. I think it makes you a stronger OR nurse to be able to function in all the services, rather than just being specialized in one. However, after a year or two I think specializing in an area is a great idea. :)