Shadowing in the OR as part interview

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 5

First of all, please consider the shadowing as an interview - with the staff. Because I guarantee you that the interviewers will reach out to the staff you were with for their impressions.

As a non-employee, you should only be shadowing, and not actively participating in patient care - it's a liability thing.

Ask questions, but make sure you do so at appropriate times. Critical parts of patient care like anesthesia emergence/induction, surgical counts, and time outs are not times to ask questions. Read the room at other times - is the staff tensed and hyperfocused? Are they relaxed and chatty? Those are clues to how the patient/surgery is going and whether it's OK to ask questions or not.

Wear something short sleeved - you may be given disposable scrubs instead of cloth which you would put over your street clothes, and you do NOT want a wardrobe malfunction if they tear... you will make an impression, but not the kind you want to! (We don't like "outside" things, including long sleeves sticking out past the scrub top, in the OR... they're dirty and a risk to the patient).

Eat breakfast. Again, not an impression you want to make because we have to call a rapid response on you when you pass out. (Yes, it happens. Yes, they were embarrassed. No, they were not selected.)

Don't stress about the interview questions. We know you don't know the ins and outs of the OR. But be ready to answer many of the common questions - why the organization, why the OR, what do you think are the duties of an OR nurse are - we check if you do a little research, but don't expect a full rundown. Think about the fact that the patient is anesthetized and can't advocate for themself- it's your job to do that.

And of course, there's all these to check out for more perspectives/tips:

https://allnurses.com/why-wasnt-I-offered-or-t745360/

https://allnurses.com/soooo-observing-operating-room-o-t104893/