Question about OR system in USA

[isabellao]

I have question about OR system in USA.I came from overseas had OR nurse experience. Right now I am working as OR nurse in 100 beds total capacity hospital. as OR circulator I think I am doing too many things like scrub,Dr's assistant, circulator,pain clinic, transport patient from ambulatory surgery to OR and return the patient to ambulatory surgery unit also.usually I am alone to transport patient.It is really hard on me. after transport patient I do circulating and assisting surgeon also. my hand is really aching. It will be much much better someone help me to transport patient and push stretcher but nobody is willing to help me. when I worked in my country, OR nurse never leave out of OR even we are perioperative nurse . what do you think? Also I do oncall. even I had oncall last night or early morning I have to come for elective case also.Am I complain too much? Is this USA system? I want your advice. thanks, sincerely.

[Jarnaes]

I don't think you are working in a safe environment. Sounds like you have a lot to deal with on a daily basis. Please clarify this for me... do you scrub and circulate on the same case? If so, that's a violation of accepted standards.

If you're not familiar with the US Operating Room system, please take some time and look into the AORN. It is the association for OR nurses in the US. They publish a monthly journal, and the annual AORN Standards and Recommended Practices. You can also get resources on clinical practice, jobs, education, and public policy.

Good luck to you.

http://www.aorn.org/

[isabellao]

dear jarnaes,

thanks for reply. i am working as scrub & circulator. i know the hospital i work with sounds not right. that is why many nurse's did quit.we had two room in or. sometimes we do 10 cases with one lpn & me& one more rn- she does recover pt and sometimes circulate but she is not here with us. she goes ed & never see her. two of us runs or.too much for us. if no case i have to do pain clinic with anes dr. if i do scrub, i can't circulate. but i want to know the other hospital also doing transport by circulator also? my second question is you do transport alone or someone with you.? i am so frustrated with all situation here.

before i quit ,i want to know other hospital situation.

many thanks.

[MamaCheese]

We never transport our patients alone at our facility. Anesthesia brings the patient to the room while we're setting up and we transport with anesthesia back to PACU or same day surgery when the case is completed. Who gives the PACU nurses report if anesthesia isn't there with you?

[isabellao]

I do recover patient ,too.so I am PACU & OR ,pain clinic,too. they do not have transporter to help me. Anesthesia Dr. is alone. sometimes they call CRNA to help Anes.It is too much for us working like this. I am really thinking leave here. thank you so much for your information.