Ciale

I’ve met some of the most miserable people in my new OR job. They seem bitter, resentful, and just plain hateful. I almost quit but then I decided to be the light in that department that it so desperately needs. Maybe I can help boost morale and let others see they don’t have to be assholes

I've been an ED nurse for 10 years and am stepping out of my comfort zone and applied for an OR gig. I have an interview and all of a sudden am feeling very nervous! I have just a few questions: 1. How long did it take you to feel like you knew what you were doing? 2. How often do you code a patient? And how does that work exactly in a sterile environment? 3. Who exactly is in the room with you during the surgery? 4. What equipment will you be expected to operate? 5. Do you always feel like you have no idea what the surgeon is actually doing? 6. Despite my ED experience, but personality is very laid back and I dislike confrontation. Do you think thats a suitable personality for an OR?

Just a followup... I'm a charge nurse in a level I trauma center now. Passed NCLEX first time with 75 questions. BOOM. Put my ears back and went after it. Don't give up on your dreams, kids

Thanks, guys. I really needed to read all this and know that I wasn't being "wimpy" or overly dramatic. You all kind of legitimized my feelings of insecurity. You're absolutely right about all the resources. I would drown without them. I've asked if they could extend my orientation a little bit longer and they were really supportive and understanding about it. I'm gonna keep plugging along. At the very least, I'll get some good experience here and maybe have the confidence to know if I can manage this job, I could probably go anywhere in nursing (except pediatric trauma that takes something I don't got!) :)

I've been an RN for almost one year and I started in ER. I'm still in ER but just took a new job at a level one in a new city (came from a level 3). I am freaking stressed OUT. I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing and I'm just "winging it". Is this a normal feeling? When will I start feeling comfortable? I feel like everyone moves so fast and I'm always 5 steps behind. At the very least, I consider myself a safe nurse and would never do anything I wasn't sure about but i'm not sure about A LOT of stuff so it slows me down. I guess what I'm asking is, how long did it take you all to feel comfortable in ER? This new job is making me want to quit nursing all together.

I thought it had less to do with blowing a vein than it did the speed at which they have to push the dye in order to get a quality picture. Like, they can use a 22 but its not gonna be a great quality CT?! And, that would be really unfortunate for the patient and kind of a waste of money for an expensive scan. ??

Thank you guys SO much for all the info. That really helps me. I guess patience is my best bet right now. Looks like I'm headed back to school!

I want to start my career in the Navy NOW but I only have my RN (associate's degree). Does anyone know if they'd be willing to take me and help pay/train me to get my BSN while serving? I don't mind working as a nursing assistant if that's what it takes... Also, and I dunno if it matters, I have 3 years in trauma/er experience. Ugh. If I knew then what I know now, I would have gone into a BSN program.

I had this patient 3 times last shift. Absolutely ridiculous. I tried to make them understand why this was a stupid reason to come in and the doctor was totally nice and coddled them. UGH! Don't they know they're just encouraging them?!

Thank you! The oncoming nurse asked if I got one when the pt arrived, I said no, and she rolled her eyes and ran to get a trop cartridge. Psh...dummy!

So maybe that's why the doc didn't order a POC Trop on my unresponsive pt the other day...they had already shocked him 6 times in the field so seems like a POC trop would be irrelevant?

I have good bedside manner and have gotten pretty dang good with IV's but that's about it right now. I'm a brand new nurse. I'm still pretty clueless with the crash cart/life pack and thank gawd there are people to help me when I need it. I feel like if I could just get some confidence, I could be pretty awesome but that's hard to do when you feel like you suck each day. I have so much respect for the experienced nurses I work with.

We get sandwiches. Oh and they put up a giant expensive looking sign in the department that says "HAPPY ER NURSES WEEK" I wish they'd just pay us a critical care differential instead. That would be nice. Really feel like I earned it today. But I'm not bitter. NOPE!!!! Ilovemyjobilovemyjobilovemyjob....

My paramedic co-worker once found a whole starburst candy underneath shamu...er..a lady's breast while doing an ekg. Pt's response was "Huh. I don't even eat those things!"

I guess I should have clarified...this nurse always hates me whether she's in triage or not. I can't figure it out. I get along with everyone. So weird. She actually kind of gives me the willies. One day she slammed the phone down on lab and said "they're all worthless" like stone-cold she meant it! Who says that!?! She looks like she'd be a featured news story on 20/20 for cutting her husband's member off and then setting their house on fire or something. She probably kicks puppies too. *shiver*