"blame the nurse" in the OR??

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Hello, I've been on the site many times but this is my first post!

I was wondering if any of you OR nurses ever felt your license was on the line regulary in the OR? I mean, there are many reasons why I am interested in working in the OR, but one of them is that there is always a team to back you up, and if something goes wrong it probably wont be all your fault (although I know there are times it can be). Am I wrong to assume that? I have panic attacks now working on the floor because I feel the patient's care rests entirely on my shoulder because I'm the only one at the bedside and if something goes wrong...blame the nurse! I was just wondering if that is also true for the OR.

Thanks!:D

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Buy your own , and be very careful. Not much else you can do. Just do your best.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

The OR is like any other area..you must not only be an advocate for the patient, but for yourself as well. There have been OR nurses who were disciplined for not speaking up when something was wrong(such as wrong site surgery) You have to be able to put the brakes on a bad situation and not worry that the surgeon will be angry with you. Many times as circulator, you have to be the bad guy and say "NO" .

The good thing is that you develop gonads of steel.:D

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Kudos on the "gonads of steel" comment, SquirrelRN71. I have only had the pleasure of observing the OR but I did find the setting really interesting but based upon my discussions with the nurses who work in those settings I was told to make sure you buy your own , make sure you always do what is in the best interest and safety of the patient and always CYA because most others won't be doing it for you.

!Chris :specs:

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
I have only had the pleasure of observing the OR but I did find the setting really interesting but based upon my discussions with the nurses who work in those settings I was told to make sure you buy your own malpractice insurance, make sure you always do what is in the best interest and safety of the patient and always CYA because most others won't be doing it for you.

!Chris :specs:

This can be said for virtually every nursing specialty, not just OR.

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.
This can be said for virtually every nursing specialty, not just OR.

Yeah that's definitely true, I should have noted that in my post. I didn't mean to make it sound like working in the OR required you to CYA any more or any less than any other nursing specialty.

!Chris :specs:

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In my opinion, I think it's vital in any area of practice to know the standards of care established by the professional nursing organization, state board, and ESPECIALLY your organization. The whole team is accountable for what happens in the OR. My advice is when you work for an organization, make sure they are supportive of the nursing staff, include nurses in decision-making, and don't put up with those (even physicians) who have poor standards.

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Specializes in L&D, OR.
You have to be able to put the brakes on a bad situation and not worry that the surgeon will be angry with you. Many times as circulator, you have to be the bad guy and say "NO" .

The good thing is that you develop gonads of steel.:D

I definitely agree but I also want to add that sometimes it's not just the surgeons you think about being angry with you, it's also the anesthesiologists/CRNAs and scrub techs who you may have to anger as well. Scrub techs are technically working under your license so if a count is wrong, it's probably more of the circ RN's fault then the scrub tech for not enforcing policies and etc. Anesthesiologists/CRNAs are usually more understanding of our situations and all the policies and protocols we have to follow but it can still be hard at times to speak up. I just started in the OR so I don't have my "gonads of steel" yet but I'm slowly developing them. lol

Proud to be an OR :nurse:!!

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Specializes in Only the O.R. and proud of it!.

From an annual premiums point of view, OR nursing is one of the least riskiest for malpractice claims.

BUT!!! We are not immune!! Advocate for your patient, follow policies and procedures, and document, document, DOCUMENT!! (Physician aware... skin integrity if compromised before your care begins... etc.)

I agree to carry your own . You never know when your own institution may throw you under the bus. We ARE human, you know. We make mistakes and learn things new every day.

better lucky than good, they say.

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No matter what.. it's always the Circulating RN's fault.

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Specializes in OR-General and Burn and Wound.

The OR is a place where there are many personalities and some that are willing to follow policies and procedures, standards and protocals and some that don't. Whatever the case may be, you must do the right thing, do your pt. no harm, put pt. care and safety first and do not be intimidated into taking short cuts. Learn to pick your battles. I have learned that you have to have a backbone, balls and ovaries of steel. Think as if you are on your own with no support from anyone.

Some of my co-workers and surgeons think I am a hard nut to crack but in the end respect me for standing up for what is right.

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