SAS2016

Thank you. This week was better. 9 weeks at 4 days per week, 8 hours per day. So I am at 288 hours roughly. We are in class on Mondays and in OR Tues-Fri.

Thank you. I didn't think of it that way. I exercise & grew up doing dance but have never been good at sports. I have good feet coordination but not hand-eye coordination. I do not like sports so I will certainly have to think of something I can do. Perhaps some kind of kickboxing or self-defense/martial arts type work. I love staying active.

I need advice on how to gain sterile consciousness. I am a new RN in my 4th month of my orientation program in the OR and last week I didn't notice I contaminated different things on a few occassions. Some of the times I noticed & others I didn't. What bothers me is the ones I didn't notice. If someone else didn't notice I would have put the patient at risk. I guess since I am new and absorbing everything there is so much going thru my head at one time. I have gotten better but I am struggling with becoming more aware. Any advice? One was when I was smoothing out the drape from the foley kit...I guess I had touched the blanket on the patients legs. Another time was holding my hands up with my sterile gloves, the back end touched my shirt. Then I have had trouble opening sterile supplies onto the back table. Otherwise, it is just hard being aware all around you at all times (behind you, etc). I am having a hard time getting into the habit since it is so unnatural. In 9 weeks I will be on my own and want to be better at this. I haven't made a huge contamination mistake but I'd really hate to be the one that makes us take down the entire back table & order all new instruments in the middle of a case.

What did you decide? I would take the closer to home & more pay & med-surg jobs are a dime a dozen. OR can be hard to break in to. I am a new grad & started my first RN job in the OR in February. I am in a fellowship program. I am just now getting into the OR more. We had a lot of boring classroom.

Yeah, it has just been straight 2 months of 5 days per week of textbook training on OR when we could be in the OR more or lab. Our educator rushes thru powerpoints and then acts like we are dumb if we ask questions so we don't ask questions. She is condescending & when she is done rushing thru powerpoints we get to hear her complain or talk about personal problems. We are all to be there at 7:30am but she always has some excuse and we never start until about 9am. We enjoyed it for awhile but we got old and as nurses would rather be up and moving around. Oh well. Most of that part is over. I love the fact that the training is long. It needs to be long. My whole group just wishes the first 2 months were not wasted with death by power point but more hands on since it is a hands-on job.

Update: Well, today I finish up week 9 and we still haven't received a contract but they are coming & I think soon. Our educator mentioned them again this week. I think it is crappy we haven't seen them yet because I was under the impression we get them on day 1. Any other new grads that went to other hospital for residency programs (although not OR) told me they either received the contract PRIOR to starting (so that they could review it) or they got them day 1. The 9 of us iny my group were starting to feel we were not going to get contracts after all. But we are. The last fellowship told me they got theirs about 2 months in as well & the contract is OR specific. So you can't even move within the hospital. If it doesn't work out you are stuck in the department. Apparently if you get fired you have to pay it back too.I don't plan on getting fired but what if I am not cutting it? I generally like it so far BUT I am a brand new nurse & it is so much to learn. I feel I will never be fast enough or have thick enough skin. Everyone has been nice so far though. I am really overwhelmed & still worried about call. I'd feel better if I could move within the hospital as a worst case scenario. I just don't see how they can employ us this long and then make us sign an employment contract. They have already purchased peri-op 101 for us & spent all this money training us. I think most of the others will sign the contract tho so we can't ban together & refuse hoping they don't fire us all. I am scared to sign it & want to call their bluff but then I would be the trouble maker & may end up getting fired. Right now I am still in my 90 day probationary period tho. I will have to see what the contract really says because because if it doesn't say what I was told I will be upset I was lied to. Also, they need to back date it to my hire date & not going forward. They 3 years should have started being met already. PS: my group started in the OR 4 days per week this week. Prior to this we have been in just a few times & done a day in pre-op, PACU, & GI Lab. That is it. All classroom training & the classroom training has been a waste of time. We could have been in the OR. Now we are in class on Monday & OR 4 days per week thru August 12th. I don't see how I can possibly be ready to go on my own by then. Our OR is huge & just learning where stuff is is a chore.

I just graduated with my BSN in December and passed my NCLEX Feb 2nd. I felt the same way but thought I should give nursing a shot to at least know. I figured I HAD to try. The only clinical I liked was the OR and I just shadowed for a couple of days. I dreaded clinicals and DID NOT like floor nursing. So now I am now going to work as an OR nurse. I start my fellowship training program, that is 6 months, on Monday. I plan to start a post that shows my journey from newbie to novice (hopefully). My problem is also confidence. There is hope!!

Rose-Queen - I sure hope so. PS: No visitors sounds GREAT to me

San Antonio, TX is color coded so there isn't any confusion at the hospitals. Blue for RN, marroon for PCAs, etc. I think it is helpful for the patients so there isn't any confusion and they are not trying to hard to look at everyone's badge.

I agree vt prn...I was just nervous. I am really looking forward to this. The beginning of a new era!

Great idea Libby1987. I will look into those...I guess they are just thick socks? I have never heard of foot warmers before. What a great idea AliNajaCat. I guess I will start one in the OR Specialty page I guess (seems like that would be best). & then I can let you know. Like my own little diary. :) As long as all my pre-employment stuff goes thru in time I am set to start this coming Monday!

I can transfer to another unit if it doesn't work out. I really want this opportunity with all the training and want to be in the OR so I am going for it.

I thought that is what you meant Bottomed Out but didn't know why that mattered. I guess you would have had to travel or commute. I have never been to LA but it certainly doesn't seem worth the trouble (from what I hear).

Invitale- I do really want to be an OR nurse. I was just scared. It is more of a confidence issue than not wanting the OR. I was worried if I didn't do well and needed to get out of the OR then I would be stuck in contract. Otherwise, I prefer to stay at employers a long time. I decided to believe in myself, and the program. I am sure 6 months will teach me what I need. I am just not used to it because we mostly see regular floors on nursing school. I am going to trust myself and trust the training and go for the gusto!! I am sooooo excited, I really am. I really have no interest in a floor job. I felt I was 'settling" and I didn't go back to school for a second career to do that. Bottomed out...what is "LA"? Yes, they told me my call requirement is the best I will find in town and that they try VERY hard not to call you in. There is 24 hour coverage...so it is just if they get really slammed. It is a large OR with 36 OR rooms (if I remember correctly) so there is a lot of staff. I will just deal with it, whatever happens. It is worth it. Cocao_puff: I really appreciate what you are describing. You are right, I wouldn't like that. I didn't realize how bad it could be but I see that. As for yourself, there are so many areas in nursing you can go to...why don't you go for the gusto too and find something more suited to you? I think you can do it. Been there, done that - thank you! I agree with what you said. I don't know what I was thinking. Again, I was just scared but it is attitude & mind over matter & I am going to do this & do it well if it is the last thing I do. This is why I worked so hard in school. I see your many years of nursing experience so I trust what you say. :)

Thank you so much! I was leaning towards OR. I just really think I will like it A LOT! I was scared of the contract but now that I found out details it seems manageable. Hopefully I am there for years to come (more than the 3 even) as I am very excited about this particular hospital. It is Magnet Status! The instructor that referred me can't stop raving about the place.

Well, the fellowship really is 6 months of intense training. In the classroom only for the first 3 weeks and then classroom and with our preceptor the remainder. We have a textbook and online course work (peri-op 101), we also have homework & tests, but nothing I am worried about. I made it thru nursing school pretty well. I did have all my questions answered today and I am very pleased with the outcome. The contract is hospital specific...so if it just doesn't work out I can technically stay within the hospital and not break the contract, although they would try to keep me in their area (such as pre-op even) because of them training me for 6 months. That is okay, I am interested in pre-op as well. The contract is for 9k but prorated each month I am there. Since I know I just have to stay within the hospital though, I am fine. I like to just find a job and stay put. I am not a job hopper & hate finding a new job & all the anxiety of starting a new one. I had all my questions answered about on-call and schedule and it all sounds just fine. It is a very large OR at a very large level 1 trauma center so there is a lot of coverage. There are shifts 24 hours. They try not to call you in & try VERY hard not to call you in overnight...but if they are just really slammed then they have to. If you are there in the middle of the night & have to work the next morning they work to get you home so you can get rest (I was worried about patient safety). As for the cold, I can layer underneath my scrubs, but short sleeve of course. They also order us thermal jackets that we can wear that I will purchase. I am excited...I think this is it!!!

So I have all my questions answered today and I am very pleased with the outcome. The contract is hospital specific...so if it just doesn't work out I can technically stay within the hospital and not break the contract, although they would try to keep me in their area (such as peri-op even) because of them training me for 6 months. The contract is for 9k but prorated each month I am there. Since I know I just have to stay within the hospital though, I am fine. I like to just find a job and stay put. I am not a job hopper & hate finding a new job & all the anxiety of starting a new one. I had all my questions answered about on-call and schedule and it all sounds just fine. It is a very large OR at a very large level 1 trauma center so there is a lot of coverage. There are shifts 24 hours. They try not to call you in & try VERY hard not to call you in overnight...but if they are just really slammed then they have to. If you are there in the middle of the night & have to work the next morning they work to get you home so you can get rest (I was worried about patient safety). As for the cold, I can layer underneath my scrubs, but short sleeve of course. They also order us thermal jackets that we can wear that I will purchase. I am excited...I think this is it!!!

DeeAngel, I agree. I just hadn't heard of a 3 year contract before. Two would make me less nervous. If I am able to transfer departments then the contract is fine. Again, I don't think I would want to transfer department & I am NOT a job hopper BUT I am just thinking worst case scenario. 3 years may not be that long but sounds like a long time to feel trapped if it turns out I hate it. Honeslty, as long as I get thru the 1st year okay then I think I can get thru the other 2. It is the first year I am worried the most about

Hi cocoa_puff, you sound like me. Everything you mention is what I don't like about floor nursing. I don't know if you know your personality type but I am an ISTJ and floor nursing doesn't really jive with that. My tele floor would be mostly pre and post CABG, chest pain, arrhythmias, etc. So a true tele floor. Sounds a lot like your floor. I will also have 6 patients. The director said the goal is 5 but to be honest, there are usually 6 patients. I almost took a job at the same hospital on a neuro floor that would be 5 patients, 6 if they are really busy, BUT they would pretty much be all stroke patients, ALL total care, and confused, etc. Sounded pretty hard to me. I loved everyone I interviewed with but it just wasn't enough to convince me. I figure I may hate the tele job too but I am willing to give it a shot as a starter gig. I actually don't know how I will do with all the patient juggling. With OR you have your one patient at a time but you are dealing with everyone else in the OR and they can be strong personalities. I think I can hang but may have to toughen up a bit...develop thicker skin. I am worried about getting shaken if I have a surgeon yelling at me. You can't lose composure in the OR when you have that patient who cannot speak relying on you to advocate for them. I think I would be ok though. I find out more today so I will post an update. Depending what I find out I may just go for the OR.

The tele job does have a class we go to for 4 hours once per week that is on different topics. That is for 12 weeks I believe. My training is 8 weeks with a preceptor, up to 12 weeks. So I am not actually familiar with other residency programs but I have heard one director at this hospital call it a residency and another say they don't have residency like other hospitals. So I get trained in the tele job but not like this OR position. For the OR they said at the end of the 6 months I WILL BE competent, I may not be "confident" but that takes longer and I will be COMPETENT. I don't think they will forget about this contract but I should find out a lot more today.

Thanks, this is good to know. I will find out today. :)

Sorry, I should have clarified. They just call it "fellowship" kind of like a residency program. I was offered a job as a perioperative staff nurse. I would go through the 6 month training. It is in class training and in the OR with a preceptor. After the 6 months then I am on my own working as an OR nurse. So it is basically a job that has rigorous training involved, but I would already be hired.

Thanks. When they call me tomorrow I will know better. I don't think they are bluffing though. A couple of the hospitals systems here do 2 year contracts. The system that I got a job at doesn't. The hospital I am going to doesn't for anything other than this program because it is so extensive. I will find out the penalty tomorrow but I doubt it is cheap. I guess if it just doesn't work out and they would let me move units and still not be breaking contract then I would go for it. Considering that no other unit at that hospital requires a contract though, I think that the contract will tie me to the OR.

I posted this on the general forum but wanted to put it here to see what the OR nurses think: I am a new grad that was offered a job on a telemetry floor in a hospital where there is not a contract to sign. I was also offered a job that is an OR fellowship that starts with 6 months of training so I would have to sign a 3 year contract from the beginning. When I graduated I told myself that I just WOULD NOT sign a contract. I am a married 38 year old (no children) and held my first job for 7 years and 2nd job for 12 years before leaving to go back to school so I am not a job hopper but I don't like the idea of signing my life away. I don't know if it is worth my sense of freedom. It seems like a great opportunity that I would be crazy to turn down BUT I am just not 100% sure because of the contract. I am interested in the OR but given the limited exposure in school I can't be 100% sure & there is no backing out of the contract. I found it to match my personality better than any floor job & it was exciting. This would be at a level 1 trauma center. I am scared and lack confidence...but it is 6 months training. The tele job is my first choice out of floor jobs (I was also offered a job on neuro and another job at a long term care facility) but I never saw myself as a floor nurse, although I could do it and would be great for experience & it would just be a stepping stone. I liked the director & she really liked me. She is big on growth and learning & doesn't expect you to stay on that floor. She says I could transfer to another department after a year. Schedule and having a work life balance are important to me at my age. The OR fellowship is 4 ten hour shifts & I would work one weekend every 6 weekends. I would also be on-call two days every 6 weeks. They do self scheduling. I really don't like the idea of being on-call but I realize it is part of the job. The tele job is day shift 7a-7pm 3 days per week, 36 hours. I would work every other weekend (not a problem) but maybe not because some prefer to the weekend shifts for the diff. Basically OR =less weekends and being on-call. Tele = more weekends and no on-call. I feel with tele I would move into other roles easier than OR vs OR and deciding to move to another dept because it is so specific. Another problem is that a prior clinical instructor had her students at the hospital I would be at. She told me about this program because I was talking to her about OR. She got me the interview because she just ranted an raved about me to the charge nurse. The fellowship was full but they brought me in and offered me this position. It is kind of last minute. I feel they are doing me a favor and I know my instructor pulled strings. She just has been very impressed with this hospital. So I feel the pressure to do prove to everyone why they did this for me. However, I don't really like favors being done. So if I turn it down I will feel embarassed and that I wasted everyone's time. I honestly didnt' think it would pan out. I think I would be a good fit for OR but I only shadowed a nurse twice in school so I can't really be sure. BUT I would be in contract for 3 years. That is a long time to not be in the right spot. Another problem (sounds dumb) is that I remember being in the OR and not being sure I could work there because it is soooooo FREEZING and I hate being cold and am always cold. Plus, being on-call makes me REALLY nervous. So while tele may not be the dream job I would feel free and know I can grow. I graduate Summa Cum Laude so I feel I can succeed and am will move on to great things. So my 3 problems with OR are: 3 year contract (I really hate this idea), being on-call (but I know it is part of the job-I just think I couldn't sleep a wink thinking I am just going to be woken to run in for an emergency surgery), and the freezing cold temperatures in there is a real problem. Any advice? I need to decide pretty quick & I just keep going back and forth. I am not sure I would like the tele job either of course, but I would gain skills & confidence & can transfer departments after a year. I wouldn't have a contract hanging over me. The director of the unit was also really nice and really liked me. It's tough.

I don't think I get 6 months to sign the contract, I think it is from day 1. The training is 6 months long...which is why they have a contract. They invest that much in you they want to make sure you don't just leave. Many hospitals around here have 2 year contract for new nurse Residency programs but the tele job is at a hospital that doesn't have a contract. To cleback: I am interested in the OR. I got excited about it & never liked the floor jobs. OR fits my personality but I lack confidence for sure. I just don't like the contract, being on-call (but it goes with the job), and it being FREEZING in there. I just am not sure it is worth it & then to be stuck for 3 years if I am miserable is scary. But it is possible I will love it. The problem in school is that you really only shadow a couple of times in OR & nursing school teaches nothing about it really. Seems risky. The tele job would just be a stepping stone. I could see myself moving from there to critical care of getting in to leadership...if I didn't decide to go try out OR at that time. To Bottomed Out: They had a panel that met me Friday and an RN that was in the fellowship was in there. I don't know if she was done with the 3 years. But I thought of more questions over the weekend so they are supposed to call me tomorrow. One of my questions is for those that didn't succeed in the program, what were the reasons?