rikomom

Thank you so much for sincere advice and encouragement, canesdukegirl and idahostudent2011. These comments made me so much encouragement. Probably I took this job without checking enough to know about OR. I questioned myself why I needed to switch my position to such a new area. I don't want to give up. I want to believe I can do this. Your words mean so much. I will try to take time to learn. I will utilize another 4 months of training as much as I can to get skills from others. I will review Alexander. Maybe I will post again later whenever I need to cry or vent my feeling. I was so disappointed at myself the other day. Thank you and thank you for replying to me!!

I need any suggestion. This is my 4th week as a circulator orientee in 6 month training. I feel exhausted everyday and today it hit me. The first case was an open ortho. I was opening a package of implant and then grabbed the inside package which was supposed to be sterile. The surgeon asked my preceptor to put me off from training in this case. He was not upset and I did not take it offended at all. I understood how the surgeon was stressed out. In the second case, the patient needed to be in lateral position. I was right by the patient but my brain did not work for picturing what I should do. A senior nurse gave me a dirty look after all since probably my action did not help. In the third case, I was prepping a patient for shoulder. A surgeon questioned if I cleaned a part of the shoulder. I said yes but the prep solution was not showing the color. She said, "I will do it again". I did not take it as offended at all but I felt "fail" again. My preceptor was really nice and kept telling me "don't take it as personal". I was answering "yes I know. It is ok". However, after I came home, it hit me. I have no confidence or even can't imagine to become an OR nurse. I am fine on preop assessment, charting, and timeout. Probably that is all. When a surgeon asks an instrument or something, I often have no idea what he/she is asking. The names on the instruments are so unique and hard to understand. I need lots of ques to take next action although I know what I need to do. My brain goes black out especially after pt is sedated and after procedure is done. I know I should not give up but I don't have confidence in me right now.... I appreciate any advice in advance.

You must be worried so much right now because of your manager's email. When you go to see a doctor, make sure to ask to fill out a FMLA form. By submitting that paperwork, you are protected for the position. At least, you don't need to worry about calling in sick. As somebody said earlier, you might be able to work shortly once you restart on meds. I hope you can find a good psychatrist for you. Good doctor and FMLA.... maybe your top of the priority list...besides taking care of your son.

Thank you Brownbook. After I read you, I just felt much better. Yes it must be true. It is just like the difference between ICU and med/surg or others. It is a big challenge to handle so many cases in eight hours. Quick turnover. Quick charting. That is a quite skill. I will keep it in my mind, your word, "I shouldn't worry a SDS nurse is missing so much not working in OR". Thanks.

Thank you NurseSnarky. Yes, I agree with you SDS is very fast paced which I like about. I mentioned about sutures before but I know it is not the first thing I am worried about. As you said, it is not about suggesting a suture. In ER or other floor nursing, I used to suggest doctors or others something. Maybe I had more autonomy although I know it was coming from my experience. This is my third week as a circulator with a preceptor and the journey just started. I guess I am just missing the part of being independent. Yes, you need to be a team in OR. It is not a "code" but it is kind of the same kind of situation since everybody takes care of one patient. I need to know what I am supposed to do while others take their parts. I won't give up and will take time to see if I really enjoy OR or not. Until then, I just need to study and learn everyday. I must say that people from main OR don't like the idea I got into SDS without any experience in OR. SDS is a quite popular place to work although the schedule was not my reason to take the position. Thanks for your inputs.

You need to focus on your own health before you take care of others as a nurse. Besides, you don't want to lose your license as well as you need to feed your son and pay bills. I wonder if your workplace would be able to support you a sick leave until your doctor give you a clearance. I would call to HR and ask what the policy they have. Meantime, you may look for a day position. Please take care and good luck.

I just passed Peri OP final exam yesterday and started wondering maybe I should have started in main OR. I am not a new grad. My background is about eight years of med/surg, float, telemetry, and ER. I recently transferred to same day surgery (SDS) with 6 month training in OR. So far, it is quite challenging in OR. I am comfortable only pre op assessment part! OR is very different from other areas I went through but it is very interesting to me. I don't or cannot say I love it yet but I want to put myself through tough time. As a novice OR nurse, SDS OR is challenging. I am learning so much stuff from each case every day. I haven't even scrubbed yet. However, I know most nurses in the SDS are from main OR and they tell me I am missing so much stuff. When I cannot find a right suture in the stock room, I feel like I know nothing. I miss head to toe, physiological assessment of nursing.... I am asking "why am I doing this?" I was already doing a charge nurse for three years and I was the one orienting new nurses. It is luxuary to learn something new and still get paid. I tell myself someday I will feel comfortable enough to be an OR nurse. It is up and down. I spoke to a main OR nurse yesterday who transferred from ICU. She told me that if I started in main OR, I would have utilized my experience more than in SDS type of patients. Now, I started wondering what if I transfer to main OR later on. I appreciate any thoughts or advice.

Yay! I passed on the second trial with 93 marks. Thanks for the advice.

Thank you for the replies! Very encouraging. I am not allowed to bring a note or anything in but I have questions I got wrong. I focus on those topics to review... I need to pass this for the next time since if I don't I need to find another job as per the manager. Big pressure but I will try my best. Thanks again.

I just failed the 1st trial of final exam:crying2:. Only one passed at 81% out of 7 RNs in OR training.... I was reviewing questions for each modules but obviously it did not help. The final exam is so much more abstract and applied questions overall. It is really overwhelming. Has anybody take it recently? There were 113 quesions and passig score is 80%.

It is a few years old but still very helpful research. Thank you for westcoastgirl!! The website is : http://www.eileenogrady.net/.../Ranking%20of%20states%20AJNP_April_07_ %5Bfinal%5D.pdf

Although I agree NP would be the best benefits for Hawaii, NPs are still not well recognized yet here. As Zenman said it well, Hawaii is not like mainland. Not many NPs work in my hospital as well. Just not there yet.... unfortunately. Working in Hilo would be a big challenge even for me who have lived in Oahu for five years... But it would be a great chance for you to open up a clinic for isolated area as well. Hope this helps.

Actually, does anyone recommend hiring an attorney on internet? Because an attorney is about 120$/hour in Hawaii, I wonder if I can save some money on internet... Or is it about same?? Ooooo, expensive!

Thank you all again!! I was away from computer because of moving to a new home and etc. Then, I started looking at this website and now I am glad I did that! Because this site is really helpful to make a big decision such as hiring an attorney or making a career decision, etc.... So much more information!!! I will start looking for an attorney this week and start the paperwork for greencard. Less than one year!? That would be great!! :roll :roll

Thank you all for quick replies and advice!! I decided to look for an attorney to make sure doing correct paperwork and save lots of energy and time. I am also glad to hear that it would take less than two years....that would give me somewhat feelings of freedom. What about "employer petition"? What is the difference from job offer letter for TN visa? Does the employer have financial/other responsibilities to support my greencard process? I know my hospital will support for the paperwork, though.... Thank you again.:roll