MereSanity

I'm currently considering an MHA which doesn't require "clinical" hours. It's unfortunate as I would rather earn an MSN. I may not have another choice though. Do you know of any of these online services that are reputable and legitimate? Thank you so much for your input!

I have a ton of experience as an RN, 14 years of college, and numerous certifications. Wanting my Masters degree (yeah, no masters yet). However, finding a preceptor will be almost impossible (long story). Thinking about an MHA instead of an MSN? Anyone try that route instead?

Well, nobody at my place of employment has an MSN. This is gonna be a problem if I have to have a preceptor for any of the MSN programs. So I was thinking maybe I should just get a masters degree in a field that's not nursing related and then I won't have to accrue all of those precepted hours anybody else go that route? Thoughts?

I decided to return to school for my MSN in Leadership/Administration/Quality (one of those). Anyway, much to my dismay, I discovered that nobody where I work has an MSN in any of those areas. And, all of the universities require so many preceptor hours! There's no way that I'm going to be able to find anyone to be my preceptor ☹️ I feel like my goal of earning my MSN is shattered. I have a ton of experience and I'm certified in numerous things (CNOR, RNFA, TNCC, ACLS, etc), I was also always a straight A student in nursing school. I'm not trying to get out of work. I just don't see how this is gonna happen now and I'm heartbroken. I'm looking for an online MSN program with a fast track and very little clinical hours. I've done many searches online, but I'm not finding one. I realize clinical hours are important but after 20 years of being a nurse, and with all my previous experience, it really doesn't seem necessary. Anyone have better luck than me?

So what is your process with instrumentation in the OR? Does every speck of blood need to be off the instruments before sending them to SPD? Or just the majority and then spray before sending them? Our SPD has started requiring us to scrub every speck of blood off the instruments (and in ortho cases that can be difficult). Nurses hunched over a basin in the back of the room scrubbing the blood off instruments, techs and nurses missing their breaks and lunches because they had to scrub all their instruments before they could send them to SPD (and getting written up if they don’t pass inspection). I need to know what other hospitals are doing (especially bigger facilities) and if you have any written information or pictures to back it up that would be very helpful (and the name of your facility if possible). Half of our staff is ready to quit. We got yelled at because we sent blades down for reprocessing that had blood on them (like we are going to scrub blades!?!?). Thanks! MS-BSN, RN, CNOR

Would you give a patient medication someone just handed to you? No? Would you want to check it yourself? I am a certified operating room nurse and I will not put my license or job on the line by placing my trust in doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses, and assistive personnel who may not abide by the Standards and Guidelines. I want to KNOW I am getting the right patient, right procedure, consents are signed, etc. Unwise, unsafe, cutting corners is just dumb.

The teal chloraprep is for people with darker skin tones. Easier to see after applied...not for fair complected people. You cannot see the orange on darker skin, you can however see the teal.

OK I need some input here. So I was always taught not to wipe down tables or spray instruments while the patient is in the room (seems like common sense), but now my hospital has decided that we can't break down the back table, change the trash (if we do we must leave the bag open so as to not spread contaminants (which I always made sure not to push down on the bag anyway), or tidy up because it might spread germs. I like to keep my room clean (no I don't go overboard but I can't leave trash all over the floor either)! And turn overs should really suck now too. After a less than exhaustive search I have not been able to find any supporting documentation regarding this "new and improved practice". I was wondering if someone could provide some literature or guidelines regarding this practice or at least let me know who else is doing this? Thanks in advance.

Ours always say laparoscopic possible open, never just gallbladder removal because laparoscopic and open are such different procedures (same outcome) but definitely different.

Anterior however is supine and on a specialty table whereas a traditional hip replacement is lateral. Completely different positioning and couldn't be changed mid procedure like a chole or valve. And like it or not anterior is a laterality.

OK...I just need input here. We did an Anterior Hip Replacement and the consent only said Total Hip Replacement (no indication of anterior approach). I ticked off the Dr when I asked that "Anterior" be added to the consent. His argument was either way it's a total hip replacement. Was I wrong? Is this a grey area? Did it matter? I'm pretty good at navigating consents but he had all the pre-op nurses mocking me by the end of the day. Input appreciated! Thanks!

I would be interested too in this information!

I love the OR...great place for ADD personalities. Been there for almost 9 years now. I love one patient at a time, asleep patients, no real family interaction (OK, I suck I know). I love the atmosphere and personalities in the OR (and sometimes not). Highly specialized, longest orientation of any specialty. No, I'm not a "go-fer". I could go to the floor (please no) and within a day or two be fine working there...the same cannot be said for the OR. Hundreds and hundreds of instruments, pieces of equipment, standards and guidelines, etc. Not to mention hundreds of different procedures that you need to know how circulate and/or scrub (times hundreds of doctors that all do it differently). Never a dull day. Oh and ortho is my favorite! Loudest, brashest docs are usually in ortho! Love the OR!

If you work in surgery and get your RNFA (RN First Assist) you can indeed do these things. A BSN is suggested for an RNFA.

You gain so much more than you will ever "lose". It's the longest orientation of any specialty for a reason! I could reorient to the floor in a week...however no floor nurse could float to the OR without a ton of orientation! I love the OR!

Pinch the nose. I wear glasses and don't have an issue. Good luck!

I have heard you should use more than one agency. When one has nothing good another might. Keep options open. One traveler calls them her "pimps"...working to find her good assignments.

I had 7.5 years (8 now) and am CNOR certified. I have a lot of experience except I don't have neuro experience (I did open heart another team did neuro so I never did it before). That is a drawback for me but I told them straight up I don't do neuro (would love to learn though). I wouldn't expect an OR nurse to travel with only a year under their belt, I'd recommend more.

Yeah...the large can of body spray had no "lip" on it...took forever to get a grip on it.

I'm currently a travel nurse in the OR! Love it and get paid really well because it is such a specialized area. MereSanity BSN, RN, CNOR

I love the OR...been there for 8 years now. Call us trained monkeys but the trick is to think three steps ahead of the surgeon and scrub (helps to know how to scrub too). Also, know what all the equipment and instruments are, what they do, how they work, how to troubleshoot, etc. Also, training for the OR is the longest of any specialty (pretty good (and necessary) for a trained monkey). There are also a ton of guidelines, standards, and regulations that the good (CNOR certified) OR nurse knows back and forth. My job is to advocate for the patient during their most vulnerable time (unconscious and alone). I am in charge of the room (think of it like a manager) and have a hundred responsibilities as the manager of the room. Sure the doctor is the doctor but I'm in charge of the room (no ego trips here, we are all there for the patients best interest). My surgeons depend on me and know I can get the job done...there are hundreds of room and equipment set ups for every type of surgery (and every surgeon has different preferences so multiple that by over 100), and a good OR nurse knows them all. I am ACLS and PALS certified so I can push meds during a code (I've had surgeons leave during a code and anesthesia can be so busy that they can't run a code...it's all me). The OR is NOT for everyone. You need thick skin and the ability to work under pressure and with every type of personality. I call report to PACU and could give them their life story but they don't need that, so I give them the basics. I am also trying to do 80 other things at the same time (count, open dressings, call waiting room, move patient, chart, specimens, clean up, etc, etc, etc...just forget it if it's a quick case). I don't know if PACU realizes that sometimes or even has a clue what we do back there. And sometimes I just don't have much info to give (healthy 20 year old, lap appy....fluid, dressings...what else is there to tell if it was a straightforward case?). You love it or you hate it. It's highly specialized and under appreciated. I do know that if you think all an OR nurse can do is be a "go-fer" you haven't got a clue. We need ALL specialties! Why so much bitterness between them? I DO NOT want to work the floor, the ER, ICU, PACU (etc). My highly ADD mind would implode. You work your area, I'll work mine! Vive la difference! MereSanity BSN, RN, CNOR

How bout weirdest thing up a rectum? I'm an OR nurse and have taken out a large can of body spray and a remote control from a guys rectum before.

Coblator is usually set lower...setting at 6-9 is normal.

I had this issue today (made me nuts)... Patient came down for surgery on LEFT leg...consent (made out on floor) says RIGHT leg (not like he didn't have a gunshot and wound vac already on the left leg but whatever)...anyway...pre op nurse crosses out "RIGHT" and writes "LEFT" after it is noted (by someone else) the consent is wrong...I come to pick up the patient and tell them I can't accept this consent this way (they initialed it too)...still...sloppy consent some lawyer would love to rip apart....now...instead of helping me get going on this (getting new consents signed) they argued with me and searched their policies for 10 minutes because "we always did it this way". So here is what I am asking....where can I find the legal "rules" for proper consents? Thanks!

The RN should pick up the patient...make all the necessary checks to see everything is filled out correctly...its your license...and we are the "final" check before the patient comes back to the room. Period. The circulating nurse is responsible for the care of the patient in the OR....not the preop nurse. Who checks to make sure pre op did what they should before the patient comes back?