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Are these practices typical in your department??
A surgery center would not have a critical care unit to pick patients up from. Sound like you work in a facility with a weak nursing voice and bad management. There should be a policy that clearly specifies when to do a full instrument count, and there really should not be an argument if anyone wants to do a full count for any reason. Sound like you need to fly as soon as your contract is up.
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Not doing what I was hired for
Man........people are really racing to get on that high horse or ride the sarcasm train!! OP I think you should lay down your thoughts to your supervisor and let them know some changes will have to take place. It's not right that they swindled you into doing a different job than what you signed up for. If they are not willing to make changes there isn't anything you can do about them, but you don't have to stay there. I'm sure there is some employer who would appreciate a nurse like you.
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CNOR cert; ACLS/PALS cert
My employer requires BLS, PALS and ACLS. They pay for for the course and your time to take it also. I'm not sure if they pay for CNOR but I know as of now they don't pay extra if you have it.
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What are the cases that could be done in a Day Surgery Unit
I would add for ENT the following: Tonsillectomy Adenoidectomy FESS/SMR/Septoplasty Hemi-Thyroidectomy Bilat. Myringotomy with tubes
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DNR bracelet with DNR written on it. HIPAA???
I don't think it's a violation. Patients have their names, birthdays and account numbers on their bracelets.
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Forced to stay and work under mandatory evacuation?
I don't fault the OP on her opinion. It is part of the job to have to stay if it's in your contract, but nursing is job. I'm not altruistic and I don't work for free or for slave wages. If staying for a disaster is a part of the job, then I should be payed for my sacrifice, risk and dedication to get there. If I'm at work, I should be payed for every second I'm working or if I have to stay, sleeping. If I'm not getting paid, then that means I'm off the clock and should be free to go home. For those who say they hate those who go into nursing for the money, I say volunteer or donate all your wages to your employer to validate your statement. As much as it costs in time, money, and effort to become a nurse, you know you wouldn't work for free! I believe if a nurse is good at what she does and is competent, her motivation is irrelevant. It's more important for her to be skilled, with a professional demeanor. The only reason you shouldn't be a nurse if it shows you don't like it or if you're harming/killing your patients with incompetence. People need to stay in their lane when it comes to the personal motivations of others.
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Forced to another shift when I have seniority
I think you are taking the proper steps. Just make sure you have in writing that the new shift will not work for you, and that you do not quit. If if comes down to it make them fire you. If you trust someone, have a witness come with you or someone from HR come with you.
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Nursing job with the least interaction
I like the OR because you don't really get all extra crap that comes with people. You get to do your job without all the distraction of the family or the patient because they are asleep!! I love it.
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ChloraPrep Allergies?
Our ortho and general docs use chloroprep quite a bit. Haven't had any problems with it at all. I know it's important to let it dry completely before draping which will help with ioban sticking. Besides that, I haven't heard of any patients having allergic reactions to it.
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possibly going to all one color scrub tops
I don't work at a facility where you have a uniform, but I do wear the provided OR scrubs. I think I'm in the minority but I like the idea of color coded scrub uniforms. At some facilities I've been to I've had a hard time figuring out who was who because everyone just wore what they wanted. I couldn't quickly figure out who was a nurse, practitioner, tech, assistant or housekeeping. People had badges, but they were sometimes under jackets or lab coats, turned around because they never stay flipped the right way, or you're squinting your eyes trying to see way down the hall what someone's badge says or what coloring it had on it. I think it would also help with security. I can walk in my nearest hospital now with a pair of scrubs on, blend in, piggy back through a security door and cause some mischief. Granted, uniforms can be copied also, but at least it's an added control. A little patient education could easily correct a knowledge deficit and direct patients to the needed personnel without you even saying a word. I also don't care about if the hospital will pay for them or not either. It's a tax write off if you do have to pay, and I'm at work to work, not look cute.
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Where are the RN First Assistant Programs? NJ/PA/DE
They have a school in delaware county PA. Here is the link. Delaware County Community College | Find yourself here.his school only excepts experienced operating room nurse first. So you will have to find a job as an OR RN.
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Attitudes in the OR
I don't think it's the norm at places that are nice to work at. This usually happens when staff are stressed, underpaid, and overworked. It can also happen at places where management is terrible. I would learn what I can and get out.
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A good answer to those who ask our salary
I just say "Not enough."
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Seeking OR Nurse advice
My training experience was not that difficult, and not nearly as difficult as nursing school. Although I did not go through an official program, it was more so on the job training. There is a lot to to learn, and I'm still learning because I've only been an OR nurse about 5 months. I'm off orientation now and I think I'm doing quite well. I actually like my job way better than floor nursing. What you can expect is to learn a lot of positions, equipment, and the reasoning behind what's used and why. There will also be a fair amount of anatomy because you kind of have to know what they are doing in the surgery. If you get to scrub in your program expect to learn a fair amount of sterile technique, instruments and procedures. OR nursing is not "hard" but there is just a lot that you need to know. Just my 2 cents
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safe staffing in the O.R.
Seems pretty typical to me. Usually there is only me and a tech scheduled in a room together for a case. Our surgery center has only 4 rooms and there may not be anyone in the hallway because staff are in a rooms doing cases. Running for something is not a big deal since you know ahead of time what the case is and any incidentals that may need to be handy. Also, I don't see why you couldn't just call out to the other department and ask on the phone for something. Although I think it's important to have the circulator in the room, I feel part of the reason you're there is to go get stuff because everyone else is scrubbed. It's an outpatient case, so pretty routine and you should be able to get prn's or extra supplies ahead of time. I would only see a problem if you needed and actual "assistant," to maybe hold retractors or cameras and there wasn't anyone available who was trained to scrub and assist.