MsHB

I'm glad you had a good experience in the OR with what sounds like an excellent preceptor. She certainly deserves a mention to her supervisors for a job well done:wink2: How about a generalized "thank you" letter for the rest of the OR staff as well as your preceptor? Everyone does liked to be thanked, even if they were in the background. Surely they (I hope) contributed something to your learning experience?:wink2: MsHB

thanks mate. that means alot to this aussie (in the uk). mshb

From what I have observed at work, many of the Overseas Nurses left their country for one reason and one reason only: $$$$$$$

So do the surgeons have to front up to some kind of committee after these mistakes?

My fav....A few kangaroos loose in the top paddock!

A couple of worrying incidents have happened lately at work. Such as surgeons putting holes where there shouldn't be any. Not a nice subject I know, but are you willing to share how often it happens in your OR?

Well said, Ferret.

G'day Ferret Is a bit different over here. They have the operating department practitioner role which I never saw in Aust. Apparently two year diploma studying scrub, recovery, and anaesthetics. I have only seen them do anaesthetics however. Best not to get me started on how I feel about these ODPs taking the nurse role away! Particularly when I have had the ODP call me in to do basic patient care instead of doing it himself. Apparently they don't "do" that kind of thing. The theatre assistant does more as a scout then in Aust. Will open and check trays, and even do count with the scrub. Can't say I like that either. But their standards are very high, and they all work well together and pitch in as needed. When all is said and done, Can't wait to get back home:chuckle MsHB

You are probably right;)

No-one really cares which uni you go to, as long as you come out a good nurse. And stay away from Griffith:rotfl: but seriously :uhoh21:

I can recommend ACU. I think it has an excellent program, and a good reputation.

I am curious PJA2004. If you are not an RN, not a LPN, and just a ER clerk (your words), why are you registered on a nursing site? Or are you a nursing student?

My advice: Be kind to one another. Try not to get upset when it is your only day off together and you are dying to go out, and your husband just wants to sleep after hard shift And... If you want to share Christmas or Easter or Birthday with the one you love... GET THOSE ROSTER REQUESTS IN EARLY:chuckle

Good on you! and congratulations!:) Question: Are you on a grad program? If so you will be looked after. If not, everyone will realise that you are new and cut you some slack. Use the senior level 1 and level 2's for info and advice. Your level 3 should also be willing to help with settling in to your new job and ward. Have a chat with him/her often about how you are coping, and ask them how they think you are going, and if they have any ideas on how you can improve. In regards to team nursing, you can rely on your EN to do their bit with the obs and hygiene cares while you deal with the meds, treatments etc. So you won't have to do everything for all of the patients. I have found that most EN's are wonderful sources of info as well. I know it is hard just starting out. But please try to relax a little, and try to enjoy your new profession:rotfl: Good luck MsHB

Translation please!

Thanks everyone. Thanks Sue, there are some interesting sites available. And I've learnt something already...wait for it...Noswaith dda!:rotfl: MsHB

Thanks Littleche and Sue, I appreciate your replies. We hope to go to South Wales, and have just about got our jobs sorted. I was wondering about the language Sue, it all looks so hard to say to me:rotfl: How would you say "Do you have any allergies?" in Welsh? I was also wondering about the shifts over there, do you have the full range of shifts? Someone told me that 12 hour shifts are popular there. Ta MsHB:p

Thanks Littleche and Sue, I appreciate your replies. We hope to go to South Wales, and have just about got our jobs sorted. I was wondering about the language Sue, it all looks so hard to say to me:rotfl: How would you say "Do you have any allergies?" in Welsh? I was also wondering about the shifts over there, do you have the full range of shifts? Someone told me that 12 hour shifts are popular there. Ta MsHB:p

We keep the count sheets, stays in the patients chart as permanent record. Interesting story: Reported in the news today of pair of 17cm metz scissors found in a woman's abdo 18 months after surgery:uhoh21: Apparently that hospital dosen't count all instruments, only those that might be used:angryfire :angryfire

So now I have to be culturally aware about gallstones?

Should patients be given their gallstones, kidney stones, or other bits removed during surgery? I think it is totally disgusting myself. I mean, who knows what the patient/relatives/friends will do with it? And why would they want it in the first place? But the doctors will insist on it beig done:uhoh3:

I agree carcha, a full count must be done. Not only for the patient's sake but also for our own. I know I have limited experience, but in our OR we do two counts for all major cases, (counting every instrument - regardless of whether we use it or not), and the surgeons always want to know if everything is correct before they close. Do surgeons in other hospitals out there really close up the patient and not care if everything is accounted for?:uhoh21:

So would that mean that the second RN is scrubbed for the entire case?

During the week with scheduled lists there are always 2 in the room, but after hours for emergency cases we have just one nurse, but the OR staff are always close by and available for any probs. It also depends on the experience of the nurse, if he/she wants a second nurse in the room after hours, that is arranged, but if they feel happy being there alone, with the option of getting the OR staff if there is strife, then that is acceptable too. The OR staff here do not leave until the patient is returned to the ward.:)

Shodobe, please excuse my ignorance but would you explain what bariatric cases are? Ta MsHB:imbar