CAORRN

Hey, I just checked out the EVMS web site about surgical assistants. The program is not a degree, just a certificate. There is a big difference between a certificate, a degree and a license.

I just posted about this topic! I am not an RNFA, although I would like to be one, I can't get any good scrub experience because all the techs get to scrub!! Its is really a huge problem, that is not getting any better! I totally agree, something should be done, its all management decisions though, in order to save money. It is really a shame though, that OR RN's are diminished. All OR RN's should be mad too that some states allow techs to circulate, mostly in outpatient surgery centers. You should look up the job description on Wikipedia, most of it mirrors the job of the RN(circulator), and this is the information that is put out to the public!! We should ALL be way more active in advocating for the presence of more RN's in the OR!!

It should be a nurse to nurse report. I always call and ask to speak to the nurse who will be caring for patient so and so. Once again, not to harp on a subject, but its non-liscensed people trying to take over an RN's duties. The ICU managers are well as charge nurses have to know this is not appropriate, but probably encourage it!

What has become of OR nursing? None of the RN's scrub anymore. I think this makes for horrible patient care and really diminishes our profession. Our whole OR is staffed with a 50/50 mix. I know that in the state of California there are RN's who can't find work! We have new grads who don't get the opportunity to learn to scrub and get a large part of their OR knowledge from the scrub techs! It's so frustrating and demoralizing! I have only been in the OR for about 15 years and am shocked at how much I have seen it change in the short amount of time! Does anyone else feel this way?