michele742

Since I graduated nursing school, I networked very hard to get a position in the OR. Since I started this journey a few years ago, the OR was the only place I wanted to be. Now, I am in full swing in the OR with preceptors and I can tell you, your parents are correct in regards to "strong personalities." However, not having ever worked on the floor, I don't know if the saying "Nurses eat their young" is any different in either area. The problem I am having is that I feel I have a good grasp of the basics and what I need to do to be successful, yet my preceptors are giving different information to my bosses (not all my preceptors, just one or two). It's not even the surgeons, who can definitely get surly with anyone in their line of fire...I can handle that and have never had anything negative directed towards me, yet. What I am having difficulty with is a preceptor telling me I'm doing a great job and then come to find out that same person/persons going to my boss to report back and say that I am not 'meshing' with what I need to do. It's beyond frustrating. I'm a very positive person, I smile a lot, I say hello/good morning to everyone...and that annoys some people. All the preceptors do things differently in how they approach the patient or how they organize themselves and I have a different preceptor every day...so, if I pick up something from one person and take it to the next case/patient, then my next preceptor says "that's not how I do it..." and therefore I seem to them to be lost or not able to prioritize (of course, according to the way that particular preceptor I have that day does things). I am tired of hearing "the OR has 'different/strong' personalities" because at this point I am taking that to mean that some of the people who work in the OR basically work there because they are not 'people persons' and so you get the phrase "strong personalities." It's total BS to me. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my job/the work I do. I love the OR techs, who I have great respect for and who help me tremendously...the problem I have faced are other RN's who have bad attitudes. So, do not be afraid of the surgeons...as I am finding out that they are normally not the obstacle you have to overcome. I have tried rolling over and being gracious (that was my first approach, which was construed as 'weak' and 'lost')...I have tried being more assertive (which is construed as 'not listening' to my preceptors)...I have tried letting my preceptors lead me which turns into "she doesn't take initiative." Basically, I am feeling like I will never win this battle...it's wearing me down and making me rethink my options because most days I feel like I cannot win. In my situation, there are some very wonderful RN's who are fabulous teachers and are willing to let me take the lead. The problem is only the negative preceptors are the ones piping up and giving feedback. Again, I adore the work done in the OR...it is fascinating, fun, and exciting to be part of such a specialized area. It really upsets me to think that I am considering giving it up because the strong personalities that people like to mention about the OR equates to nothing more than some people just having bad attitudes who don't want to be teaching anyone, anything. Take this information for whatever its worth. If you love the OR as I do, then maybe you can overcome what I have not been able to up to this point...and that is the 'perception' of what you can/cannot handle from a select few who don't know how to teach and have no business being a preceptor in the first place. I'm not so sure this mentality is isolated, however, to the OR. So, good luck with whatever you decide to do! Regardless of 'some' people in any area you go, the OR is so extraordinary. It's not the work you will have trouble with, it's navigating the broad mood swings of a few people who will be in charge of your training. Good luck with whatever you decide! :)

Hi there :) I am an amateur, as I just started in the OR right out of nursing school on July 8th. However, as a circulator in the OR we check in the patient at pre-op and when the case is over we move with anesthesia with the patient to PACU and give report. Don't worry :) It doesn't add much to your time. For example, in pre-op we: verify the patient's name and DOB Verify allergies, any loose items (contacts, hearing aids, dentures, etc.) Any metal in the body? Last time ate or drank? Anybody in family have problems with anesthesia? Any history of blood clots or PE's Verify with the patient the procedure being done Any pain? after interviewing the patient then.... verify the doctor has an updated H&P verify the consents have been signed and if there is a side that is to be marked, that the doctor has marked it. if GYN, make sure prego test was done if 55 yr old or younger Check to see if patient on a Beta blocker We make sure appropriate antibiotics are on board We make sure the patient has warm blankets and a surgical cap then off to surgery we go. After the surgery is done, this is our 'report' to PACU: "Patient is (name)" "type of procedure" "type of dressings/incisions" "any allergies noted" ask if there is anything else the PACU nurse needs, if not - off we go to the next case. The pre-op interview is quick...and so is the report to PACU. That is pretty much it. If anyone has anything to add, by all means. That is just a quick overview of how it goes :) As far as 'prepping' ....that takes about 5 -10 minutes...just depends on the patient's size and what type of prep used. it varies, but again, it's not something that will hold you up much...and in places where you are to do these things, it is expected that it will take you more time than say if you didn't have to do those things. After all, someone has to do it...whether it's you or someone else. It is understandable that it will take more time than you are probably used to...and that is ok. :) and, as far as 'looking awkward'...haha, that's me everyday. You will feel more awkward than you actually appear I'm new, and still working on getting a routine. I'm only about 60 days into my new career.

Oh no! I'm so sorry Whoops Well, let me tell you...just from the sound of it...sounds like their 'periop' program is nonexistent. Having said that, I immediately felt like it was their failure in not training you that lead to this...NOT YOURS!! Do not beat yourself up over it. Bottom line, it sounds as if they did not have the tools in place to train you properly in the perioperative arena...and this is not saying anything negative about the people in this area of nursing, some places just do not have the training materials/time, etc, available to them to train an RN for the OR. You hold your head up and just realize that this wasn't something that you did...they just didn't have the tools avail for you. It's a shame, especially since I could totally feel your dedication and excitement in your posts for wanting to learn this arena. As for myself...I have 'backups' in the back of my mind in case this doesn't pan out for me. So far, I love it and today was my first day back in the OR rooms. I prepped, I charted, I interviewed patients with my preceptor there...every step of the way they reminded me "you won't 'get it' off the bat...it will take months and months of training...even then, you won't feel at home in this area for at least one year." So see...they 'GET IT!' Sounds like your place of business is not set up for that type/length of training. So, I would say if you can find a hospital with an actual 'periop 101' program, then don't give up on your dream just because you happened to be in an organization not prepared to give you the tools it takes to succeed. again, HANG IN THERE mi amiga...and don't let this experience crush your spirit. Many many hugs to you!!

I'm a new OR nurse, just out of school too! I have been in the periop 101 program for one month now. For the first month we did nothing but bookwork and meetings to go over the bookwork. Everything from sterile technique to putting items on the field to Bovie's to pathology and blood transfusions to specimen collection (and our instructor also said we need to wear our jackets while in the room because skin cells from your arms could shed onto the patient, which can increase risk of surgical infection) basically a general 'once over' on everything we will need to know. I will spend a day in the holding area tomorrow and then on Wednesday be in a room circulating a case with a preceptor. It is up to me how much or how little I do the first few times...which will also determine how quickly I can be in a room by myself...but, there is no pressure to be a super circulator or to actually 'know' what I am doing. Advice I was given by those new nurses who went before me...no matter what, even if they are joking around having a good time during a case, do not 'join in' and open your mouth unless directly talked to or unless you have questions about the case and your role...because even though those in the room might seem like they are letting you 'join in', they could very well turn around and say things like 'she isn't taking it seriously' or 'she isn't listening.' I am a total 'people person' so it will be hard for me not to join in the conversation...but I will be taking the old 'newbies' advice and not talking unless I am talked directly to...at least until the different teams get to know me and get to trust my work. Sounds like your periop program is a bit skinny on details...hang in there and take all the constructive criticism (and not so constructive criticism) and use it to your advantage. That is what I will 'try' to do (as hard as it might be at times). Good luck sister! :)

I am a brand new OR nurse (graduated May 2013) and we are being taught "Circulating" only. We have plenty of surgical techs and they are the ones who scrub in. We are a 528 bed facility and we only use the techs for scrubbing in a case.

I passed my NCLEX...cut me off at 110 questions. I only used Saunders. I opted out of Kaplan too...too expensive for my blood

I am also a brand new RN...just passed my boards last week and was hired for an OR periop program. I'm very excited :) But, I must admit, I have absolutely no idea what language you all are speaking in...other than supine and trocar...lol...but that's why I'm going through the periop program, right? (good grief I hope they don't expect me to know these terms right off the bat!) To the OP, congrats on your new position!!! YAY!!

Hi all :) I am a brand new RN grad (ADN) and I was just offered a position as an OR nurse in a perioperative program for one of my local hospitals. I worked tirelessly behind the scenes...contacting the nurse educator for the OR, the hiring manager...got an interview and from the interview stage to decision it took about 1 month for a decision to be made. They are now waiting for me to pass my boards (which all I am waiting on is the ATT letter to sit for the exam). So, it can definitely take some time. Some of the other places I have interviewed at STILL have not made a decision and for one hospital, they still aren't sure if they are doing the program and I have been talking to them for the better part of 6 months!!! However, having said that, I 'checked in' with them every 1-2 weeks...touching base with the OR hiring manager, checking on where they were in the process. Re-emphasizing my enthusiasm for wanting to joint their OR team...making sure they new my name in a sea of applicants and new that I wanted this. Towards the end they were probably like "PLEASE just hire her so she will stop bugging us!" lol. :) Whatever it was, it worked and I start as soon as I pass my boards (no pressure though...haha). So, I guess that is my advice...if you haven't heard from them in 1 week, call the OR hiring manager or the person you interviewed with and just let them know you wanted to 'touch base' with them and see where they are in the process...how you are looking forward to the possibility of joining their team, etc. Couldn't hurt...if nothing else it might make them take out your resume again to see who they are talking with and remind them of your face in that 'sea of applicants.' Just a suggestion :) Good luck!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I just got 'pinned' on April 29th and I also have been offered an RN position in the OR :) They are waiting for me to pass my boards but as the OR hiring manager said, "You're in! Now we are just waiting for you to take the boards." I worked tirelessly behind the scenes for months trying to secure an OR position, and all my networking and interviewing and tracking down the hiring managers paid off. It's very exciting...I know the feeling and I know you must just be thrilled :) I feel like I need to go purchase an "OR for dummies" book or something now...lol. Don't laugh, I might do it...haha. Many 'high fives' to you, sister :)

Hi all :) I'm a nursing student in my first term and just wanted to thank you for all the feedback on this thread. Right now I am trying to get into the OR as an ACP while in school. I LOVE OR/PACU. I worked a stint in OR/PACU some time ago and loved every minute of it (even if most days I was just restocking and cleaning equipment). Loved the personalities and the doctors and nurses were so gracious in teaching me about procedures and protocols. I have never forgotten the experience...it was invigorating. I plan on going straight into the OR after I get my license. Having said that, I have 2 days left on clinicals for med-surg. I will NEVER work med-surge.....EVER!!! lol. As a nursing student, I don't even do much but take vitals, do neuro checks, give meds, change dressings, bathing, etc, but I HATE it :) I LOVE LOVE the patient's though. I don't know why I hate it...the only thing I like about it are the elderly patients I sometimes get. I guess if I never was able to work in the OR, I would probably end up working in a nursing home because I love the elderly so much. Anyway...one of my classmates said they want to work in the ED or trauma "but first I will work on med-surge or tele I guess." Why? If you have a passion for something, go after your passion!! That's my opinion anyway. I have found (and correct me if I am wrong) that the OR is such a different animal from floor nursing. I have a passion for the OR, I am excited in the OR...I don't think med-surge or tele will help in navigating through an OR, RN position. But again, I am a 'green under the gills' nursing student and maybe I don't have a clue as to what I'm talking about...lol. But, that's what I'm going to do... Oh, and if you HAVE to wait because there are no positions...do something else that you are happy with :) Med-surge/tele, doesn't matter which :) Good luck!! :)

I'm a nursing student in my first term and I decided to go to a hospital job fair today. It was quite the eye opener!! RN's who passed NCLEX last May and beyond STILL looking for a nursing position. I know I am jumping the gun, but I really want to land an ACP/PCT position in the OR/PACU, because ultimately, that is where I want to be and it was solidified again today. All the tables lined up for the hospital's different locations...I saw a table that stood out...a table I couldn't take my eyes off of...the OR/PACU table Back in 2001 I worked in the OR and I LOVED every minute of it, as an ACP. The staff at that table were different...they were fun...they were personable...the exact same type of demeanor I remember my co-workers (nurses and doctors) had in the OR I worked. Then, I get to the med/surge table...the only area that was actually hiring ACPs. I know I bombed their interview...and I know it was because my heart wasn't into it. I don't want med/surge...I want OR. Once I get my RN license, the OR is where I want to be...you ladies and gentlemen inspire me!! When I talk to those in OR, my face must light up or something because I'm confident and people listen to me and I don't stumble...lol. That med/surge interview...pffffttt...I was like a bumbling fool. I just wanted to thank all of you OR nurses for sharing your stories and experiences...you keep that fire in me to want to join your ranks one day. You are all inspiring and I am so grateful for that. I didn't think that fire was still there...until once again, today, I was able to interact one-on-one with staff from an OR. It was fabulous!!

Hi Jess :) I think a lot of us that were on this thread have been hanging over at the facebook page more...look me up and I will send you the link to the page: Michele Holt . :)

I'm so sorry you didn't get in this time Shiverphone If this is something you really want to do then you need to keep at it. I couldn't go first time around back in 2003...here it is 8 years later and I am finishing what I started. I know it's disheartening when you put your all into something that you want...the let-down hurts. Take a breather, regroup and then try again...you can do anything you put your mind to. For some, these things come easy...for others, we have to work our butts off for it. Also, keep in mind as people decline their seats (and many people decline their seats) you could get a decline letter one day and a phone call the next saying you are in due to people giving up their seats. Another option to keep in mind...FSCJ is not the only program in town. Many hugs to you and well wishes!!

I think I found you! I sent a request :)

Chzwoman - lol!!:) Don't you go there sister! We are in!!! Besides, the email is directly from her...I was thinking that it probably was sent through email because of the time constraints and her being on vacation. Just my guess...I also am guessing that we will also get something in the mail, but I could be wrong :)