Winx51

She needs to be fired.

Get some thick skin and good luck.

1) Smart mouth PA's who talk too much during the case; "please keep the chit chat to a min while the surgeon is working". 2) Lazy ST's; "Im not running for you anymore-either open the must have supplies on the back table and keep the might needs here in the room or you will not be scrubbing in this OR today-are there any questions?" 3) Rep's; not allowed in the room until the surgeon needs them-or the tech has a question about the system being used. 4) CRNA's and Anesthesiologists who bring their roll aboard suitcases; "that is not allowed in the OR". If they don' remove it then I call the Chief. Works like a charm. 5) ST's who leave extra supplies in the room; Ill put this half up and you put this half up. If they don't then I politely remind them before the day is up. If I find it their the next morning then I tell them that i need for them to put their supplies away from yesterday. 6) Late ST's. If I have 5 total joints that start at 07:15 please don't show up at 06:50 to set up. I don't need to explain that one. 7) We had a hand surgeon who was a screamer. What a little jerk. He screamed at one of my old managers in front of every one; made her cry. I said "real classy". He glared at me; I was waiting; he would have lost. 8) Surgeons who stand around the room after a total joint asking are we ready yet? Does it look like were ready? Ill page you when it is time to ID. Don't you have X-rays to look at? 9)I always tightened their headlights one or two clicks between cases. Fun. 10) Had a bossy med student one day----asked them to leave.Sat out in the hall and pouted. 11) 3 surgeons = 3 beepers. Is this an emergency? He'll call you later. ps..put em all on vibrate. 12) Tie green gowns in a knot. 13) After 16 years I had had it. I think that generation is on its way out. The new guys are better. Hospitals are finally wising up and being much more selective with their hiring process. Creating a better culture and then protecting it. For those of you who have issues with folks in the OR; state the policy. they can't argue with it. Be diplomatic and you'll almost always win.

I spewed a lot of sharp negativity with the original and follow up posts. The truth is I am burned out of OR nursing. I am not condemning nursing at all. It is a great profession with more opportunities than most other fields. I think if you are lucky enough to find your niche you will be a lot happier than most. I believe I am going to pursue the FNP route. I thought about it 10 years ago but chose not to pursue it for personal reasons but now I think i would do well with it. Delmonte, I would try a change in specialties and even consider going back to school. I have done a lot of searching for non-hospital jobs that are seeking RN's. They are out there, but almost all of them require a MSN. I have found openings with GE Health, McKessa, different oil companies, Walgreens, Walmart...etc. You just have to look outside of the box. I look everyday. Good Luck

Get out of the OR.

Still looking. I have a BSN; big whoop. If you don have one you won't get hired by a big hospital where the decent money is. Everything is about accreditation these days from JCAHO or the ambulatory agency. You get a higher score with BSN's. So hospitals at least here in Texas won't even give you a sniff unless you have a BSN. I thought about sales; but I cannot stomach the idea of kissing ass. I have seen so many folks come into that arena only to wash out after a couple of years. Hospitals want cheaper and cheaper contracts. Out with this implant and in with this one until the next RFP. To watch a really good rep come in and walk a surgeon through a spine case only to have the surgeon act like a complete ******* to the rep because the surgeon ****** up burns me up. If it wasn't for the rep the surgeon would be lost. Sorry for the profanity; but hey I never cussed or drank until I became a RN. I thought about CRNA school but I could not afford to be off of work so long; 36 months and I am too old to mash through the GRE. For those of you that have stayed in so long my hat is off to you.

Good luck.

Net glow you hit the ail on the head. I guess my post was a little rough. What a f'd up environment though. If the public knew what went on in a OR thy would be mortified. I should write a book. I'm 40 so a complete career change is in the works. I applied to 3 ICU internships but never received a call. Its not like it used to be; hospitals would rather pay a new grad 24.00 an hour versus 38.00 an hour for a 15 year rn. I don't know what to do. Maybe I'll get a job at lowes.

After 15 years I have decided to quit the profession of nursing. I have been a OR nurse for a big hospital and a smaller clinic. I thought about going back to school but the idea of continuing in nursing frankly makes me ill. I have made some friends and it has been a steady paycheck but that is it. I just flamed out with no chance of a relight. I am no longer challenged; I enjoy mopping the floor more than anything else. I have had my fill of jerk surgeons, smart mouth PA's (wanna be doctors), arrogant CRNA's, lazy ST's and PCA's. If I plug in one more bovie or connect one more suction I am going to spontaneously combust. I tried agency but we all know what your assignment is going to be when you show up; worst hack with a ST that could barely fog a mirror. I also enjoy working with a bunch of women who all PMS around the same time every month. I love you but somedays it's too much. My question is, has anyone moved on to a different career and if so what are you doing?

Hello Everyone, I am an Operating Room RN with a little over 15 years of experience. I left the OR full time to pursue another career but have managed to work per diem for the last 5 years. My "other career" has fallen apart so I have decided it's time to do something much more challenging; become an ICU RN and eventually apply to a CRNA program. I have worked with some fantastic CRNAs (GHA) over the years and have always thought it would be something I would be good at. I would like to remain in Houston so I would apply to the University of Texas here in the medical center. My questions are: 1) Has anyone over the age of 40 applied to and completed CRNA school; particularly UT or Baylor? 2) I have an ADN from HBU with a GPA of 3.0 and a BSN from TWU with a GPA of 3.2 ; in your honest opinion should I even bother with those numbers? Yes, I know they are low. These grades are from the mid 1990s. 3) My cumulative GPA from the late 80's was a not so hot 2.7 with a mix of B and C grades. 4) I have to take Organic Chemistry and Statistics; pretty sure I could make an A in both. 5) I also have to take the GRE. I haven't had a college class in years so I signed up for the Kaplan GRE prep and the math refresher to help with the score. Should I wait to see how I do on the GRE before I even attempt to take the CHEM/STAT classes and head down the road of trying to get into CRNA school? 6) Should I consider other CRNA schools out of state that might be easier to get into? Don't pull any punches; I would prefer honest and realistic replies. Thanks Again [email protected]