question for OR nurses !!

Silverdragon102, BSN · Feb 25, 2017

Moved to the OR forum

Editorial Team / Admin · Feb 25, 2017

Check out my thread here: https://allnurses.com/operating-room-nursing/tips-for-new-1001302.html

And this thread: https://allnurses.com/operating-room-nursing/what-do-operating-426443.html

And my personal (admittedly biased) favorite: https://allnurses.com/operating-room-nursing/ask-an-or-1015274.html

ggoodman · Feb 26, 2017

love what I do, sometimes question where I do it. but I singed a contract so they have me by the BS for another year. It's busy, get a great team and it tons of fun. I love my Doctors, know more about them than most. Thick skin is a must and check in Rn's who work there. any one with less than a year in is not a good source of info. I primarily do cardio, neuro and trauma, but will circulate anything.

Lala72 · Mar 1, 2017

Thick skin is a must

May I ask why it HAS to be a must?

ggoodman · Mar 2, 2017

lots of personalities some stronger than others and with the specialties I work with, I have the big one's personality wise. That said they all like me and some are good friends now. Working hard and proving you can pay attention, as well as not acting like a know it all make everyone like working with you.

Lala72 · Mar 2, 2017

lots of personalities some stronger than others and with the specialties I work with, I have the big one's personality wise. That said they all like me and some are good friends now. Working hard and proving you can pay attention, as well as not acting like a know it all make everyone like working with you.

Thanks for for your input! I'm interested in the OR when I finish school; however, I must admit... I haven't quite developed a backbone just yet.

jag nurse, RN · Mar 3, 2017

I am interested in input as well. Here is what I posted this on another thread:

I work med/surg and need to do something else. Nursing has switched to pleasing the patient/family in every possible way (HCAAPS) and then charting about everything to appease a sue-happy world. Whereas, it used to be about patient care. I am looking at ED, OR, or PACU. The on-call (or rather the no-sleep part of on-call) is what scares me. I want to be safe. In the medical field, however, where residents do 80-hour weeks (used to be 120 before they changed the laws) and nurses work scheduled shifts plus call hours, there doesn't seem to be anyone standing up saying, "We're dealing with HUMAN LIVES, here, and this isn't safe!" So, being it is what it is, what are your experiences, and how do you handle the no-sleep issue and keep your patients and yourself?

Editorial Team / Admin · Mar 3, 2017

I am interested in input as well. Here is what I posted this on another thread:
I work med/surg and need to do something else. Nursing has switched to pleasing the patient/family in every possible way (HCAAPS) and then charting about everything to appease a sue-happy world. Whereas, it used to be about patient care.

Hate to break it to you, but you're going to see that in periop as well. Granted, you're only going to be dealing with families briefly and the patient will usually end up under some form of anesthesia, but you're not going to get away from it completely.

The on-call (or rather the no-sleep part of on-call) is what scares me. I want to be safe. In the medical field, however, where residents do 80-hour weeks (used to be 120 before they changed the laws) and nurses work scheduled shifts plus call hours, there doesn't seem to be anyone standing up saying, "We're dealing with HUMAN LIVES, here, and this isn't safe!" So, being it is what it is, what are your experiences, and how do you handle the no-sleep issue and keep your patients and yourself?

The no-sleep thing happens very infrequently. On-call typically involves staying late to finish cases that are still running, and on occasion getting called in for emergencies. It's still possible to get some sleep and even the normal amount of sleep- I go to bed at my normal time when I'm on call, just keep the phone nearby with a really loud, annoying ringtone. Most days, I get up when my normal alarm goes off. Some days, I get woken up by that annoying ringtone, go in and work for a couple hours, come home, go back to sleep, and then get up again when the alarm goes off. Only once have I actually worked my full scheduled shift and then the full 16 hours of my call shift. Once staff came in the next day, we were out the door and off to bed. Just ask about the call requirements when you are at the interview- depending on the specialty and facility, you may take only a few hours of call a week or a lot. In my OR, the cardiac team (which I'm on) averages about 50-120 hours of on call per two week pay period (depending on whether that two weeks includes the 64 hour weekend call from end of shift Friday to beginning of shift Monday). In contrast, the rest of the OR averages 8-16 hours of on call per month.

jag nurse, RN · Mar 3, 2017

Hi Rose Queen,

I am definitely aware that you have to deal with that in other areas of nursing--should have stated that in my original post. Anyway, I appreciate your reply. She did explain the call to me, but I need to clarify with her next week. I want to say that everyone has 10 calls shifts a month, so 2-1/2 shifts out of three per week would have call attached to them--that's if I do 12s. (They also have 8's and 10's). The call is for either 12 or 24 hours, depending upon the schedule. She said that there is one nurse scheduled for nights and that the on-call person is the second to come in, so that makes me think that there may be a lot of no-sleep. : /

SweetSouthernLove, ASN, BSN · Mar 5, 2017

Hi Jag Nurse,

As Rose Queen previously stated that call can vary from specialty to specialty in the OR. At my hospital, our ENT team takes less than 10 days of call a month. I am on CV so I take 15-22 days of call per month. It is a nice way to make extra cash, because you are not always going to get called in when you are taking call for that day. As Rose Queen states its mostly just finishing up cases for that day. If you have quick surgeons, this can be a great thing for call! Also, since you have a scheduled night nurse they will take the cases that are running late and emergent so you wouldn't always have to come in.

And if available, you can always try to give your call away, there is usually someone willing to pick up the hours and do the cases for the extra cash. That is why if you are interested in extra cash, call can be very lucrative. Just food for thought!

jag nurse, RN · Mar 5, 2017

That's some good information. :) I realize if varies from hospital to hospital, but is it a lot extra per hour far call? I know that with floor nursing, it's not much.