Siouxz2

Personally, I think it's a load of crap that wouldn't hold up in court, but this is what they're telling us now. They basically told us, "this is how our lawyers told us to get around this pesky law." Our manager will quickly stroll through all the rooms telling everyone (in the most annoying sing-song voice, as if she is enjoying this), "Make whatever arrangements you have to--everybody's stuck today."

I was wondering if any other OR nurses in PA had heard of this in regards to the new law regarding mandatory overtime: I work in an operating room in PA. The way our department is trying to get out of this is to say that when a patient arrives in the hospital and has an IV started, at that time his surgical procedure has begun. Our OR schedule is hopelessly optimistic, and a case that is scheduled to start at 12:00 may not get started until 3:00. At 3:00, we go from about 13-14 RNs down to 4. If I am told to stay and do the case and do not follow orders, I will be considered to have abandoned my patient, even though he may still be up in the preop area. This is what we were told by management. Has anyone heard anything similar?

I work in an operating room in PA. The way our department is trying to get out of this is to say that when a patient arrives in the hospital and has an IV started, at that time his surgical procedure has begun. Our OR schedule is hopelessly optimistic, and a case that is scheduled to start at 12:00 may not get started until 3:00. If I am told to stay and do the case and do not follow orders, I will be considered to have abandoned my patient, even though he may still be up in the preop area. This is what we were told by management. Has anyone heard anything similar?

Well, judging by the two replies I have received along with the number of people who have read this thread and not responded, I have to think that most of you believe I should just give it up & go into another area of nursing. OK then, when I go in today I'll look at the jobs available & see if there's anything that looks good to me. Sigh. I'm really going to miss it.

I am a new OR nurse (July 2006). Graduated from nursing school 6/06, and am 45 years old. I had a meeting yesterday with our teacher practictioner about their "concerns" with my work and learning curve. Apparently, I'm not "putting together" everything I know and running a room smoothly, in a timely matter. They say I'm relying too much on the surg techs, and that someone else has to do the tasks that I don't do. Let me state for the record that I am not lazy in the least, nor am I stupid! Unfortunately, though, all of their observations are right on the money. I get myself so worked up about getting everything right that I freeze and forget everything I know when the time comes. Also, one little mistake will send me into a tailspin so that I can't do anything right afterwards, and the entire case just goes into the toilet. I can't seem to "think out of the box" when something goes wierd in a case. They also said that I was inattentive to the field, which is patently untrue. I have a pretty severe hearing loss and am trying to get my hearing aids adjusted so that they work well in the OR. I have repeatedly told the people I work with to call me by name first so I know they're talking to me and then speak to me loudly. But it seems this is ticking a lot of people off, because they see my poor performance and probably think that my "hearing loss" is just an excuse (it is not). Yesterday, they asked me if I was happy there. Every day, even on the bad days, I think to myself how fortunate I am to have such an amazing job. I don't want to have to leave, but I need to be realistic too. Is this something I can work through, or is my personality such that I will never be a good OR nurse? I was also raised during the time when doctors were God, and you would never question or disagree with them. I know everybody says to "just suck it up," "never let them see you cry," "get a thicker skin," etc. Unfortunatly, that is easier said than done. It is not how I am hard-wired. BTW, my patients love me. They find me very caring and comforting. It's the rest of the job I can't seem to get a grip on. Sorry this is so long. I just don't know what to do. Thanks

When I was just starting my orientation, we had a very sick patient. I was very gentle and kind to her, held her hand during anesthesia and before she drifted off, I told her I would be with her the whole time. Turned out she didn't do well after surgery and died the next day. My preceptor said, "Just think. The last words this lady heard were words of comfort and compassion from you."

I'm so glad you started this thread! I am an older "new" nurse (45yo), and went straight to the OR. Three months into my orientation I had to have back surgery & was out of work for three months. I just started back this past week. I was so scared to come back, but actually I was surprised at how much I remembered. I KNOW that once I actually know what I'm doing I'm going to love the OR. I also am the type that tends to succeed in my endeavors and succeed early. This entire experience had been a huge blow to my ego. I feel like a complete failure, even though I'm being told that I am where I'm supposed to be after 3 months--I want to be SUPERNURSE after one month !! I also think the constant pain from my herniated disk also contributed to my slowness in catching on in the beginning. Try learning something that may determine whether a person lives or dies while every single second is consumed in pain! Now with no pain, I find I have more energy to really concentrate on what I'm learning, and have developed some memory tools for myself. I'm glad to hear that other new OR nurses have had the same feelings I have. Our instructor keeps telling us we're going to feel like fishes out of water for about a year.

As a very nervous student nurse trying to assess my patient and fill out the mountains of paperwork for the day, I told my patient "Just a few more questions & I'll be out of your hair." Patient was undergoing chemo and was bald as a cue ball.

Best of luck to you! I started nursing school at age 43, so to me 28 is still WAY young LOL. I knew I had some hearing loss, but didn't know how bad it was. During school I always sat in the very front row & never had a problem. I would caution you, though, about considering the OR for a career. Not being able to read lips through the masks and the muffled voices is just terrible. I had to get hearing aids. It helps a lot, but sometimes it's still tough to hear.

Just today, I was at a stop sign in a parking lot. There was a big pillar obstructing my view of the exit of a store. While I was stopped, a woman crossed in front of me with two little girls. I got ready to go and out of nowhere her two sons flew out from behind the pillar on those skates--never looked. Almost hit them.

THANK YOU for this post! You have summed up all my frustrations very succintly. I was 3 months into my 6-month orientation when I had to have back surgery for a herniated disk. When I go back, I will have been gone about 3 months or so. I am having anxiety attacks every day, worried about what I've forgotten and fearing I'll be back at square one. I have struggled every day of my orientation. I especially had a hard time understanding what was being said through the masks. I knew I had a hearing loss, but when I went to get tested I found it was moderate to severe! Now I have hearing aids in both ears. Hope that helps matters a bit. Also, amen about the surg techs! When I first started in the OR out of nursing school, I made a vow to treat EVERYBODY with respect. Those ST's have saved my hide a number of times. I value their knowledge. They are very good friends to have. Much of the time they are kinder than the nurses who are orienting me.

We started with about 75 in our class; 10 of those were men. I think we graduated 42; about 7 guys were left. I loved the guys in my class. They were so much fun, and very dedicated (I'm 45 and these guys were mostly my sons' ages. They were like my surrogate kids). In fact, a 30-something married father of 3 was class valedictorian. Also, most of the male nurses I worked with during clinicals were fantastic.

Just an update.....I got the job in OR!!!!!!!:smiley_aa. HR called and said they would like to offer me an OR job, and I said I would be VERY happy to accept an OR job. Thanks for the support here. Another student and I will be starting together on July 10. 11 more days of school............

Hi, I hope someone can help me make sense of this situation. I interviewed on Wednesday for the OR. I thought the interviews went very well, and was pleased with them. Rumor has it there are 3 candidates for 2 OR positions (GN). I got a phone call yesterday from HR who hold me they'd definitely be offering me a job, but they "weren't sure where that was going to be just yet." I asked if that meant I might be offered a med/surg job and she said yes. Now don't get me wrong. I have a lot of respect for med/surg nurses, but it is something that I absolutely hate. I understand that with 3 candidates for 2 jobs, someone is going to be disappointed, but here's my problem: I have the 2nd highest GPA in the class, and I have worked my tail off for that position. I am in the running for the Pink Cross award at graduation, which is for students who have demonstrated excellence not only in theory, but on the clinical floor as well, and who have helped promote professionalism and caring in nursing. I have about 12 years' managerial experience. I am liked and respected by my peers. I really thought I had everything going for me, and now I am just devastated. Someone please tell my WHY did I work so d*mn hard in school, only to be offered the one position I absolutely do not want? Sorry for the rant, but I really have to get this off my chest and get some perspective from others. I know in theory, I am still in the running for the OR position, but I have a feeling they're just trying to let me down easy.

I will turn 45 the day before I graduate from an RN program this June. I am the oldest in the class and, God willing, will also be the salutarian (sp?). Hardest thing I've ever done in my life, and I wouldn't trade the experience for the world. I was pushed to my limits, emotionally, mentally, and financially, and found out what I was truly made of. You go for it! Carpe diem (seize the day)!