OR-RN<3

I love these posts! I myself get very frustrated with this. There are many nurses who I respect very much that will tolerate bad behavior. They frown upon me writing surgeons up and tell me "I need to learn to let things go" and "the OR requires u to be tough". Both are true, however...I will not tolerate sexism and being treated like I am stupid. Like many of u said, it is the less favorable part of being an OR nurse but u have to find what works for you (letting it go, or having a conservation with the surgeon or writing them up). But personally, even seeing people treat surgeons like gods and having them bow and say "yes doctor" makes me wanna vomit.

Hey there! I agree with the books above, they really helped me learn about the cases. I have narrow feet so danskos and Sanitas don't fit my feet well. I find a lot of trainer shoes leave my feet sore at the end of the day. Hence, I've tried many different shoes and I found that Merrell clogs work the best for me! Of course I recently got orthotics to help my feet but I love them! Good luck with ur new job! I just finished my year long OR training program (my first RN job) about a year ago :-)

Hello fellow RN's! Recently my hospital/unit has made some changes and I wanted to get your thoughts and advice. In our OR, we have 3 shifts (7a-3p, 11a-7p, and 3p-11p...11p-7a is call during the week and on weekends). Even though we are a level 3 trauma center, we have WORK shifts on Saturdays and now recently changed, we work Sundays (not call, straight work time). The staff is very unhappy because surgeons know we have a scheduled shift on Sundays (with a back up emergency team) so they schedule non-emergent cases ALL day. The 7a-3p shift works weekends, and the mid shift and night shift take call 11pm-7am during the week (no weekends). I think that is fair...however, the 7a-3p shift takes call now from 3-11p during the week to help out if cases go over and if we're busy. So rather than staffing the evening shift appropriately, they call the morning shift back in or we stay over after working 7-3 which is exhausting. I hope all of this makes sense. I have met with my director and manager about these issues and was hoping any of u could share how ur call works, and if it works for you. Myself and other nurses are very unhappy because we are taking a lot of call. AND working sat & sun...what is that?! In addition, they changed call pay on holidays to time and a half rather than double time. We earn time and a half when we come in on any day! So now there is no incentive to work holidays. How does ur OR work? Thanks for ur time

I'm so sorry you're going through this, I have totally been there. OR nurses in particular are total control freaks. I would urge you to talk to your educator again to get several consistent and supportive preceptors that teach you well and ones that you feel comfortable with. It is so important to have this. If that is not an option, I would ask these abrasive preceptors if you are contaminating anything when you do it your way (the answer we all know is most likely no). I think it would be in your best interest to pull these nurses aside (one on one) and tell them how you feel. There are always several ways to do something and just because it is different, does not mean it is wrong. You may be surprised by the results you get. I know it can be scary confronting someone, especially when you're new but it is obviously getting in the way of your learning. Some people just aren't meant to precept, and I have definitely experienced the worst like you have. Luckily I was able to choose my preceptors and I really hope you can too so you get a good learning experience. Good luck

Hi there! I definitely know the OR is not for everybody. I did a ton of research on what OR nurses do before I agreed to start in the OR. I was lucky enough to get into a 12 month training program, and I absolutely love it. You have to do what is right for you. OR nursing is tough (like all nursing is!), so if you don't think you'll love it, I would suggest trying a different nursing field, or researching more about OR nursing. Good luck