OR1stRN

I asked a surgeon once why did they insist on calling the med students "Dr.____". He said they have to get used to the idea that they are the doctor and they are the ones who have to know what to do, so from the moment they entered medical school they call them "doctors". Some of them just run with it. One med school I know of has a "white coat ceremony" where they "induct" all the 1st year med students into the medical community by putting their first white coat on them. Many community doctors attend, not just the medical school instructors. It's a big deal.

I think I've had more nurses make me cry than doctors. In the OR, I teach the heirarchy:"Anesthesia gets the blame for everything unless there is a resident then he/she gets the blame and if there is a med student, it's all their fault." It's just in fun because as the circulator RN I am "responsible" for the room. I just love it when the new residents start in the ER in July (yes, the ER. I work both). One of the 3rd year residents saw me shaking my head at the newbie, and the newbie saw it, too. The newbie asked why and the 3rd year said, "She can tell you're new". I also tease them about how fresh they look the first week, clean shaven, pressed clothes and coats, full of energy. I tell them I can't wait to see them in a month when the "new" has worn off. I don't tell them what to do or order but ask gentle questions like, "Do you want to order ________?" or "Can I get _____ for you?" They appreciate it and in return, give me respect for being helpful without being condescending.

they'll have to go to a hospital someday..... hahahahahahaha:rotfl:

I believe, in most states, nurses are only allowed to work 16 hours with at least 6 hours off to rest between shifts. I've only known one hospital to uphold this. It is tough working so many hours in a row, as a nurse, let alone assisting in surgery. Have you checked the Nurse Practice Act for the info? I love assisting, too. We don't need to knock each other. Most assistants are good or they wouldn't be employed. Now, what surgeon wants a so-so assistant? I am an RNFA. I do believe there should be guidelines to delineate which assistants can do what. That's for the states to decide.(like California) There should also be credentially for skills learned like vein harvesting even after the guidelines are set. Some people have different talents and one who sutures well may not be one who take vein best. I'm not sure CST's should FA. (no license)

RNFA's may not work as scrub and FA. I am employed by my surgeon and am considered "medical and allied health staff". I was employed by the hospital at one time, but they were reluctant to let us assist everytime we were requested or even when not requested but needed. I sought a private employer by speaking to the surgeons I had assisted. I loved being able to assist in all specialities (except eye surgery). I do not consider myself "in charge" but as a team member. I facilitate the care of the patient in the OR and the hospital. I am used as a resource by the OR staff and hospital staff. I am expected to take the lead in the OR regarding equipment, patient positioning, etc... I don't think of myself as a prima donna nor a surgeon but as her assistant. I do what it takes to get the surgery started and make it go smoothly. I call the XR tech to get ready, make sure all the equipment is there, proper suture is out, hang films, check labs, check the consent, answer any questions the patient has regarding surgery. Almost 100% of the time the OR/Hospital staff are happy to see me. It is also a comfort for many of our patients to see me there, as well as the office. Many times, the patients, only then, understand why I don't answer their phone calls right away when they call the office. I am available to them after discharge, by pager, for questions or concerns. My surgeon was reimbursed about $50,000 last year. She pays me a salary which does not include any of the insurance money. I am a "cheap nurse" but I like the autonomy I have with my surgeon. I like seeing the patients before, during and after surgery (most of the time). I don't like the office, but it's better than dealing with many of the hospital politics. I also have flexible hours. (of course, it is a pretzel of a schedule at times). :)

SEWING IN PROXIMALS?????!!!!! EGAD!!! Yes, I feel where you are coming from. Perhaps the hospital policy needs to be checked for privileges. The "captain of the ship" theory has it's limitations.

More pay? Better hours? Fewer patients? All of these things would be helpful but I think RESPECT is the real answer. You can't even touch a flight attendant without committing a federal offense and yet a nurse can get verbally abused, physically threatened and assaulted by a patient or a family member or a physician then be called in to explain the situation in administration. If the hospital administration, physicians or patients thought about it... we nurses are not replaceable. We are interchangeable but you have to have a nurse to do the work. It's ridiculous that they talk and worry about the "nursing shortage" and yet walk all over the nursing staff by overloading us then griping about the charting, or the fact that we clock a "no lunch" or gripe at us about the patient complaints because they had to wait too long. They want to extend the privileges of non-degreed or unlicensed personnel to pass medications, to circulate operating rooms or to assist with procedures and we have to supervise these people. Isn't that our license they are using? Nurses need RESPECT. Every time we do not report misbehavior, each time we take 1-2 extra patients, when we don't clock a "no lunch" after we have worked 8 hours of a 12 hour shift and don't get "30 minutes away from our work station" to just eat... we allow ourselves to be disrespected, to be devalued and to be demoralized. Doctors sometimes think nurses are "trained monkeys" and yet only want certain nurses to take care of their patients. Will administration take the side of the 10-year employee or the side of the Medicaid drug seeker who was verbally threatening the nurse and had security called to haul them out? Yes, it was the drug seeker, who won't pay a dime to the hospital, who gets satisfaction. And they wonder why we don't have retention in nursing. Did security respond when an ER nurse was being pummeled? No, we had to call the cops. I am tired of seeing nurses leave the practice. To them, it's not "worth it" and I believe it is. We MUST gain respect by reporting staffing shortages, refusing overtime (most states have laws regarding the hours allowed daily), taking our lunches away from work, charting or phone calls, taking potty breaks often (old people and healthcare workers have the highest rate of UTI's and pyelonephritis), and writing up patient's abuse of nurses or staff when they occur. I encourage you all to get in the ring and put on your gloves. Don't expect a fair fight and watch out for the "kidney punches". As I tell my kids, "when you fight, expect to get hurt".:stone

Sounds like you need to go back to work... it would be easier than your vacation. Hope you get the rest you were hoping for and the sleep you desperately need. :zzzzz

You question is asked in the US, too. There are many factors for why the US allows less than Bachelor's prepared nurses to become RN's. My question to you is: Do the RN, EN and AIN in Australia take the same Board Exam? Are they capable with the lesser number of education hours to pass the RN exam? In the US, we all take the same RN Board Exam and I am sure that some Bachelor's, Associates and diploma degreed nurses fail it as well as pass. I am an Associate Degree RN but most people I work with and care for do not know this unless I tell them. The patients in the US also assume that a male nurse is a doctor and a female doctor is a nurse. Does this occur in Australia? I am very interested in Australia and would love to travel there some time. I understand you meant no offense (US spelling). I am just educating you on the potential differences in licensure exams. "G'day mate"