I have question for the nurses who works in the operating room. Do you really like it? and whats your job description?. I work in Step down extremely busy unit on big state hospital and I have the opportunity to work in the OR and I'm really scared because I don't know what to expect there since OR is totally different game. They told me the orientation is 6 months which is also a long time to go through. I would like to her from nurses who transfer from another floors to work OR what was your experience and do you really like the change.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
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.
I get a whopping $2/hour if I'm at home, time and a half for a minimum of 2 hours if called in or staying late. I hate getting woken up in the middle of the night to go in and find out it's a false alarm (surgeon calls us in based on the report from the nurse to have us ready to go, but then it's something that we can't fix surgically or the patient has stabilized by the time the surgeon and team arrive in house), but I get paid a heck of a lot for it!
I love my job but it is a very different kind of nursing. ex: I count soft sharps/instruments to make sure nothing's left in the patient and I don't give meds directly or put in foleys (residents do since it's a teaching hospital) or put in ivs (anesthesia does this). I make sure the drs have everything they need in the room for the case--I work in neurosurgery and spine cases. If you like interacting with patients and the uncertain feeling of the floor excites you then this isn't for you. I like that if there is an emergency all I have to do is press the code blue button and bring in the emergency case cart. The attending and anesthesia team are in charge here--if that is something reassuring to you, you will like it. You keep busy but it is more routine so it is usually less stressful . It is also interesting to see first hand seeing surgery up close whether it's seeing a brain tumor removed, implant placed in the brain to stop essential tremors, etc.
How much of the surgery are you actually able to see, as a circulator? I did a job shadow one time and really wasn't able to see much, except for the lap procedure on the computer screen--but no real up-close pt views at all.
Well, coming from neuro where we are 80% open cases you see everything, brains, spine, etc. The only time it's hard to see pt views is when they go in through "tubes" (minimally invasive spine equipment) which only one doctor I work with really does or when we occasionally do colloid cyst resections (using endoscopic equipment). It really depends on what "service" you are hired into. Lap cases are "general" service so the doctors there usually try to do cases "closed" as much as possible.
I love it. I've only been there for 3.5 months but loving it. Although at rhe same time it is very challenging. I really don't think that OR nursing is for everyone though. You have to be able to stand up for yourself and most importantly for the patient. I work with a lot of great surgeons so it makes it easier but I have heard many horror stories. Also the pay is great.
My best non redundant advice is to play nice and be fair. It sucks when people gang on each other. Some surgeons will fixate on one particular person lets say the scrub that day and it's not cool. Some people will directly condone it by playing a deaf ear or simply smiling and siding with the physician. The "Dr. such and such likes me" is a loaded gun waiting to go off. You never know when you're the next target and therefore you need to take care of each other as a team. I always stand up for my scrub and will stop the line if need be. I have had to ask if management needs to be brought into the room in order for them to knock it off and have. My point, don't fall into those traps and be manipulated by anyone. Don't ever think you're immune and don't ever condone or permit nasty behavior. The OR can be very hostile and you can't exactly run from the situation or get away like on the floor. You are trapped for many hours or an entire day at times. Be nice!
Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN
6 Articles; 12,051 Posts
I get a whopping $2/hour if I'm at home, time and a half for a minimum of 2 hours if called in or staying late. I hate getting woken up in the middle of the night to go in and find out it's a false alarm (surgeon calls us in based on the report from the nurse to have us ready to go, but then it's something that we can't fix surgically or the patient has stabilized by the time the surgeon and team arrive in house), but I get paid a heck of a lot for it!