Should I put up with this to become an operating room nurse?

[Shannaikook]

I am currently a GN in a perioperative program which started two weeks ago. My preceptor of 3 days has really made me angry and upset. She is a new RN but was a surgical tech for several years. I think that she doesn't want to be a preceptor but she does it for the extra change. Since I started orientating with her I have done the pre-op interview by myself( she stood next to me), escort the pt to the or room, apply bp cuff, assist with positioning, placing pads and saftey straps, pour scrub solution and saline. I also gave sutures, raytecs, marcaine .25%( have not taken boards so i shouldnt be doing this), collodium to scrub tech, collected specimens, documented the complete OR record, counts, called progress to family etc. I am not a stranger to hard work and I know I need to learn. My issue is that I have NO operating room experience. I feel overwhelmed and I cried at work twice( in the bathroom stall) because if I dont do a task I feel that she is to negative in her feedback to me. Considering I have no experience whatsoever, I would think that she would be a little more understanding. I let my perioperative educator know and she went to the clinical director of the OR. Now they want to have a meeting with me and the preceptor. I dont want to be a troublemaker or a snitch but I dont want to orientate with her either. Should I have said something to the preceptor myself before I went to my educator?

[Scrubby]

Please don't take this as a personal attack but did you speak with your preceptor before talking to the educator?

IMHO if you have a problem with someone you should always try and speak with them about it before going higher up. They may not perceive that you are feeling so overwhelmed and that their feedback is seen by you as overly negative.

[corrupt32]

In our work as an Operating room nurse, we need team work and open communication at all times... in your situation, it's better for you to speak with your preceptor first and ask what expectations she wants from you..and also tell her or him your expectations. maybe you only need a proffessional talk.tell her what you feel like you are willing to learn and everything, etc.

And your problem with your preceptor should be solved first inside the dep't, if not solved then thats the time you talk with the educator..

anyway, i hope your problem was solve....

[FA to CRNA2b]

In your meeting, remember not to say, 'orientate'.

[fracturenurse]

I'm sorry you are having this problem. It stinks when you have a bad preceptor. I know from personal experience. My preceptor was just mean...

Having said that always talk with the preceptor first. Some people aren't great teachers, and if you feel like she's expecting to much of you, just let her know. The OR can be a hard group of people to work with and it would be better to start off on the right foot.

Good luck, and don't give up! It will get better...

[Akpywackett]

I think you did a lot for 3 days. Congratulations.

As a new nurse and new to the OR, I think you were right to go to your OR educator first. She/he is directing your overall education/orientation to the OR correct? She/he could/should have counseled you on how to approach the situation. While direct communication with team members is important it's not always easy, especially when you're new. Exisitng team members sometimes have a tendency to disallow or try to discredit new team members feelings. "You've got to prove yourself" And it's easier to navigate if YOU have an advocate and in my opinion that should be the OR educator.

That being said, the OR is also a lot of work. Physically and emotionally demanding. To be successful I think you have to have a pretty tough skin. And you are going to run into a lot of people that are "mean", "angry", "surly" "condescending" and just downright rude. Somtimes it's stress, sometimes it's ego and sometimes it's just not Grey's Anatomy, ya know?

Unfortunately, it seems that in the OR there is a lot of drama. It doesn't have to be that way and it shouldn't be that way but my experience has been that it is that way.

It can also be great. When the team is working together and you're kicking ass and taking names and some 'body' rolls into the room and you roll out a person. There ain't nuthin finer.

I wish you good luck and perserverance. I'm always happy to see a new member join the club.

[NabiRN, BSN, RN]

I am at the end of my OR orientation and have worked with many different preceptors. I was a preceptor when I was a certified surgical technologist (CST). I find that many RNs who were CSTs are a lot more difficult to work with because they often have to prove themselves among nurses. Although they are tough to work with, they are often the best people to teach you what you need to know. You will learn nursing skills from fellow nurses but operating room skills often come from those who can scrub the cases.

I try to focus on the big picture and where I want to be at the end of my orientation. My goal is to learn from the best and not from the ones who hold my hand. After all, when I am on my own and I am most of the time now, no one is there to hold my hand.

[KevinR.N.22]

Recently hospitals have been replacing O.R. nurses with surgical techs because their about 10$ an hour cheaper to keep on. I would suggest getting your R.N. then going bAck for 2 more semesters and get your registered nurse first assist (RNFA)

[fracturenurse]

Recently hospitals have been replacing O.R. nurses with surgical techs because their about 10$ an hour cheaper to keep on. I would suggest getting your R.N. then going bAck for 2 more semesters and get your registered nurse first assist (RNFA)

I think she is already a RN and just has a bad preceptor who used to be a CST. RNFA's are if you want to scrub and assist...