StarlightRN

I just started an OR job back in July. I'd worked on the floor for 3 1/2 years and hated it. I finally got a job in the OR and love it. There's alot to learn, and alot of strong personalities, including the surgeons, but I can get along with anyone. I've been in the OR now for 5 months, and taking call by myself which is a little scary, but we rarely get called in. There is always an RN there at night, so it's not like you'd be all alone anyway. I would never go back to working on the floor. So give it a little more time and you'll see that the OR is a much better place to work than the floor.

What 's the difference between a nurse and a nun? A nun only serves one God.

I'm new to the OR too. Just 5 weeks in, and I know how you must feel. Although it really wasn't entirely your faught. If the other nurse thought it was contaminated she never should have put it where there was a possibility of being opened. We do learn by our mistakes though, so just take this as a lesson learned. I have comtaminated small things, such as touching a techs finger handing her something, and she only had to change her gloves, and I felt bad about that as simple as it was. I felt like an idiot. But we are new and everything is a learning process and just take one day at a time. Wishing you the best of Luck in the OR.

My sister has one that says "IMANRN" I thought about "IMANRN2" we're twins. LOL

I would never break the sterile field and not tell someone. I know all about sterile conscience. I was just pouring some hibiclens in a cup the tech was holding and broke it, and then when she went to hand me the cup, my finger touched hers. So it was just a cup, hibiclens and another pair of gloves for the tech. I still just felt so stupid. I guess b/c I'm new, I want to make sure I do everything right, and don't want to look too stupid.

I'm new to the OR, and broke the sterile field today. It was something simple and a quick fix. Nothing like a whole table or anything. I know it happens, but I just feel really bad about it. I was just wondering how you felt the first time you broke the sterile field.

Welcome to allnurses. I've was a nurse for 3 years on a med surg floor and still have lots of questions. Now that I am starting in the OR I have tons more questions.

I have worked on a med surg/oncology floor for 3 years. I have just started a job in the OR, which is what I have wanted for a long time. I can't really compare yet, but I know many nurses that have worked on the floor and then went to the OR and absolutely love the OR, and say they would never go back to working on the floor. Turn over in the OR is next to nothing. Usually when nurses go to the OR they stay until they die or retire. Turn over on the floor is very high. That should tell you something right there. I'm not saying OR is easier, it's just a totally different kind of enviroment. Best of luck to you.

I think medication reconciliation is a problem everywhere. I don't work in the ED, but on the floor. If the patient can't tell us, or even the family can't we can always call the pharmacy they use and get a list. Of course that doesn't take care of meds they might have at multiple pharmacies. That's where teaching comes in to the patient. That it is very important to only use one pharmacy. As far as a patient saying they take morphine for chronic pain, when they really don't, the doctor is the one that decides if they believe it to be true and okay that order. I just love it when they come in with a list of exactly what they take, how much and how often. It's makes the process so much easier. But we just have to do the best we can with what we have and hope that it's correct and accurate. We had a patient bring in her medication bottles from home and the nurse opened up the bottle and it had a small bag of marijuana in it. We were shocked.

hello to all you or nurses out there, i've been an rn on a med surg floor for 3 years and will be starting an internship in the or on july 14th. i'm so excited. i had someone recommend a book to me and wanted to get someone elses opinion on it before buying it b/c it is quite pricey. the book is "pocket guide to the operating room" by maxine a. goldman. i was just wondering if anyone here has used it, or know anyone that has used it and found it helpful. i would really like to get more than one opinion on this book before buying it. please let me know what you think!!!

1. I had 78 questions and I passed 2. I used various books to study and did not take a review course. I did approximately 4000 questions 3. We used ATI through out school 4. I tested on Monday and got my results on Friday 5. Total Disbelief, Certain I had failed 6. Passed on my first attempt. Thank Goodness.

I've never used one of the ultra sound machines, but it seems like if you were using one you could find a better place to put an IV than the AC. I will not place an IV in the AC if at all possible. Everytime the patient bends their arm it will occlude. It's so aggravating to the nurses and the patients to have to keep going in and turning the pump back on. It's just too hard for the patient to keep their arm straight. They come up to the floor all the time b/c the EMS, or ER has put one there. It's usually the fastest and easiest place to get one. We are suppose to save the AC to stick for labs. If they have an ultra sound machine why in the world would they start it in the AC. If it is an IV team seems like they would have more experience and be able to start one somewhere else.

I have worked on a med surg floor for 3 years. I too wanted to work in the OR since school, but wanted to get some med surg experience before doing so. Finally after 3 years and nurmerous applications for OR positions I finally got in. I am starting an OR internship July 14th and I am so excited about it. It is hard to get into the OR, b/c there is very little turnover. I think when most people go to the OR they stay there until they die or retire. Just keep applying and don't give up. It will happen one day. It did for me. Good Luck!!!!

I live in NC and as of July 1, 2006 CEU's are required for license renewal. If you have 640 hours of active practice within the previous two years you only have to have 15 contact hours of continuing education activities. When you renew your license they do random audits and require your certificates as proof of your education. You may or may not get an audit. You are suppose to 1)self assess your practice, 2) develop a learning plan and establish at least one goal for yourself, 3) select a learning activity that will help you reach your goal/goals; and 4) implement your plan. There are 8 options you can choose from, but the 15 CEU's for 640 of active practice seems like the easiest one to do. My license is up for renewal September 2008. I really hope I don't get an audit, b/c I think it would be so much trouble to have to go through, sending in all your certificates, records of work hours etc.

The med surg floor I work on has 32 beds Days will have 6 RN's (5-6 pts each) and one charge nurse with 5 CNA's. Evenings will have 6 RN's (5-6 pts each) one charge nurse and 3 CNA's. Nights will have 4 RN's (8 pts each) no charge nurse and 3 CNA's. On nights the charge nurse has to take a group of 8 patients.