kathall

I started University of Pheonix online, RN to BSN in July 2008. My speculated graduation is June 2010 and that's probably if I don't stop between any classes. Classes are five weeks long and you only take one class at a time which I think reduces my stress level. There is a one week break between classes. Each facilitator/instructor, posts the syllabus for the class, to let you know when assignments are due. There have not been any tests (yeah). You have to be online with two substantive posts four out of seven days at your convenience. There are also two discussion questions per week. Other assignments include: team assignments, individual assignments, powerpoints, and a lot of papers to be written. All books are online except the first two. I have enjoyed all classes up to this point. It is expensive, but my employer is paying for it (thank God). I would recommend this program as it lets me work at my own pace. Hope this information helps!

Perineal fallout and the shedding of skin cells are the reasons for pants instead of skirts. You are really supposed to wear ankle cuffs on the pants but most just use straight legged pants. You should not go sockless either. All staff members should wear long sleeved tops/jackets unless they are scrubbing in, and then only take the jacket off right before they scrub. This is because of skin cell fallout. Think of putting glitter on your arms and opening a sterile item onto the sterile field. The glitter would go flying onto the sterile field. Well, skin cells do the same thing, only you cannot see them. If you do wear dresses, make sure you have panty hose on with them.

My speciality was ENT, so I had the opportunity to assist with many small children. When a child is "wild", there is really no other way than to use the smother technique (we called it the slam dunk). You have to take into account some children kick. pinch, bite, and scratch. They can actually injure the staff members if not controlled. I also noticed that most of the children that acted this way was the "boss" at home. :scrm:

I have 22 years of OR experience. I started working there when I was 21 years old. I left the OR several years ago and have never gone back. I am a case manager now and I love it! Of course the OR is my first love, but I also enjoy what I do now. I think the OR is for young people, and I'm not getting any younger. Get out there and try other areas. You just might find something you like better. Who knows? Maybe it would be a good idea to transfer in house at first so you won't lose seniority, just in case you want to go back "home". Good luck with whatever you decide!

I also wear glasses and found that the face shields worked much better for me than goggles or masks with the attached shield. I would cut a couple "notches" in the sponge head band on the face shield, it let air come in from the top as well. It sometimes helped me cool off if I had my circulator roll my pant legs up. See if it helps to wet your surgical gloves with sterile saline. I usually kept a wet sponge to clean instruments and would wipe my hands occasionally. Hope one of these work for you!

i used to be the program director of a surgical tech program. try asking your new boss if you can spend a few days in the sterile processing department (spd). hands on the instruments is a great way to learn. :) if you really want a resource, go with the differentiating surgical instruments (spiral-bound) by [color=#003399]colleen rutherford this is the instrument book i had my students used.