scrubcircrn

Just went live on Epic recently. Its been quite a challenge. Local docs had real issues cutting schedules back during break in period so we've had some very long days and some very unhappy staff. For those of you who have used it for a while please give me your opinion. One of our biggest problems seems to be dealing with the lab. Is that the case everywhere or is it a problem we have that can be worked out. Personally Im starting to like it for the most part.

Just went goLive on EPIC within the last month. Its a challenge right now.

You dont have to get straight A's to be a terrific nurse. Give yourself a break.

I graduated with my ASN at the age of 51. I had done retail management my whole adult life and at 45 decided it wasnt what I wanted for the rest of my life. I started taking prereqs while still employed full time. Once I was close to having all of them I quit and got a part time job and off to full time school I went. I went to surgical tech school first to get my feet wet in the medical field. Once in surgery I was hooked. I worked a year and then went prn and went to nursing school full time. THE best decision Ive ever made. There was one other 50 year old in my class of 35 but there were several 30-40 year olds. What really made me feel good is the valedictorian of our class was in her 30's and I was salutatorian.

For me Surgery is the best. One to one ratio, best hours in the hospital and great co workers.

Ive heard that Sandburg Jr. college in Galesburg even has an evening LPN program.

I worked as a restaurant manager for 13 years and then as a convenience store manager for 13 years and the job that broke me in retail I was a district manager for a convenience store chain for 5 years. I started out by becoming a surgical tech and after a year went back for nursing. So much for a mid life crisis

we stopped using pain pumps too. We do blocks on most cases- shoulders and knees.

You always need someone else to spin you- PERIOD

If youve ever worked much ortho its a constant habit to check for holes. Its not that unusual for Rep trays to get worn out and have sharp corners that puncture blue wrap. One total set I unwrapped had 4 out of 7 trays contaminated by holes. At our facility we check all wrapped packages.

I was a surgical tech for a year and decided to go back and get my nursing degree. I was lucky to be able to stay in the same hospital once I finished. I love surgery and being a scrub first has helped alot

We have to wear coverups whenever we leave the OR suite area. Going to Pt rooms, cafeteria, gift shop and labs we were them. If we leave the hosp for lunch we much change back into street clothes.

Im 51 and graduated from an Associate degree program in nursing this past May. I was in retail management for years and was totally burnt out. Going back to school was the best thing I ever did. It was hard I wont lie to you but well worth it.

I'm so happy to see such a well written article explaining the surgical nurses duties. I am a new circulator but have been a scurb tech for a few years. Our pts are in a condition that they cannot see for themselves that everything is as it should be. We are there advocates in the surgery environment. The last thing I say to a family is we'll take good care of their loved one and I mean that with everything in me. I would expect no less from a nurse taking my family for surgery. Every nurse has a specialized set of duties no matter where they are in the medical setting but we are all nurses and we are all needed.

You might want to pick up a medical terminology book or even an online class. It will not only help you later on but also in some of the science classes.