Something I've noticed about OR nurses...

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Hi, I've posted here a time or two. I'm currently a med/surg nurse but have an interview soon for an OR position. I've always wanted to be an OR nurse since nursing school, so really hoping to get the job.

Anyway, I was thinking -- ya know, I hear a lot less complaining in general from OR nurses about their job than from other specialties. I mean, I know there are "positives" and "negatives" about any job on earth, but in general, I have noticed that fewer OR nurses seem to be disgruntled. I know people in many other areas of nursing, and I also know some OR nurses ... and the OR nurses I know really never complain about their jobs. In fact, the ones I know speak positively about their jobs. I know there are hard days in the OR, as with anywhere, but there just seems to be something about OR that (for the most part) results in more contentment than other areas.

In med-surg, I cannot tell you how many people are disgruntled, overworked, not happy, and overall have lots of complaints. And I also know people in step-down and ICU who feel the same way. And yet, the OR nurses I know seem to have more "pep in their step" and actually say things like "I love my job." I have never heard anyone on my med-surg floor utter those words! Actually the opposite.

Why do you think that is?

Keira

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Well, I know that where I work we are guaranteed a 15 min break in the morning and a 30min lunch at a reasonable time because we budgeted to have 2 people cover the trauma room plus a few PRN, so there's almost always free people to get you out to the bathroom, help you with complicated cases, etc. Also, we never have to worry about being pulled to other units because we're a closed unit.

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Specializes in OR.

Top 5 reasons to love being an OR Nurse:

1. One patient at a time no matter what! Never ever can anyone tell you "oh, you can handle one more patient".

2. No call bells ever. You have a five minute window to get to know your patient and then they're off to lala land.

3. As soon as said patient starts becoming coherent you've given report and handed them off the the PACU nurses.

4. Code browns & bedpans? Almost never :up:

5. And to round it all out, I've not missed a lunch break in all the two years I've been in the OR. Once in a while they might come a little later than you'd like but they always come.

Honestly though, I love my job :redbeathe It was a huge and sometimes painful learning curve, and I've still so much to learn, but I don't regret it what-so-ever!!

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I think the environment also lends itself to cohesiveness and teamwork. Yes, there are certainly toxic ORs out there but generally, you get close to the people you work with. Doctors even tend to treat the staff well. At least, they do if they're smart!:rolleyes: You can be in a nasty case(with a stable patient though..) and actually have fun.

Surgery is cool too. You see some interesting things, that's for sure.

No obnoxious families..

And like others have said...one patient at a time, and you get your breaks 98% of the time.

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Specializes in OR.

I agree with everyone that mentioned the plus of 1 patient at a time. You feel more in control being able to devote 100% of your time to your patient. The environment is much more controlled, and usually the docs treat you better because you can make or break them during a procedure.

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Specializes in OR Hearts 10.

IMO the only down things about the OR are those that can happen in any JOB. Personaliy differences,lazy co-workers. callins, being super busy, but like the others said even when busy you can still only do one case at a time.

Ask an OR nurse if they would ever go back to the floor and I'd bet 99% would say HE!! NO.

I sometime think I would like to, BUT the ORTHO unit I worked on before coming to the OR was probably one of the BEST oraganizes units ever.

We take a lot of getting used to, but it's worth it in the end.

Good Luck....................

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Yeah, I hesitate in a way to leave my Ortho unit, but only because I like my coworkers and my manager. But I have to admit, if it weren't for the people I would not like it. Having 6-7, sometimes more, patients is crrrazy. And we never, ever get out on time. I usually work 6:30 am til sometime around 9:00 pm.

I have always been interested in OR, since nursing school. I know there are certainly stresses in OR, but I have noticed that somehow people there actually use the words "love" and "job" in the same sentence! LOL. You rarely hear that on the floor.

I am currently working on a med/surg (mostly Ortho) floor and I do not like it. I am constantly afraid that I'm going to miss something important ... patients call out constantly ... doctors write orders nonstop ... there's high acuity ... and the charting is unreal ... I never get my breaks/lunch ... it is just not enjoyable at all ... And even though I have my "days off" I still miss my kids terribly because I don't see them on the days I work, and then when I am off they are at school anyway ... Anyone else feel this way when working on the floor??

I know OR has "call" but most of the time, if you are on the 6:30-3:00 shift, you get out on time ... at least that's what my friends in OR have told me. They actually say the "call" is worth the days when you get out at 3:00.... and they say it is sooo much more family-friendly than the floor... what do you think?

Keira

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Specializes in OR.

I know OR has "call" but most of the time, if you are on the 6:30-3:00 shift, you get out on time ... at least that's what my friends in OR have told me. They actually say the "call" is worth the days when you get out at 3:00.... and they say it is sooo much more family-friendly than the floor... what do you think?

Keira

I work 6:45-3-15 and I very rarely get asked to stay. And I emphasize the word asked. If we have more rooms running at three than the other shifts can handle the charge nurse will ask you to stay and you are not penalized for saying no. We have lots of nurses so there's always someone that will choose to stay to get the OT. And we're only staying to finish our room so you at least have an estimate of how long you'll be there. I take call about every 8 weeks or so and work a 12hr weekend shift about every 8 weeks. Not so bad, huh?

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Specializes in O.R..

I was just teling someone the other day. I can say I love my job. Just like everyone has said, the charge nurse mostly always works hard to get someone to give you lunch breaks and if someone is extra they are the 15min break person. There are days you might have 10pts. but its....ONE pt. at a timeand with that you take care of the pt. with a team usually an anethesia rn and/or m.d., surgeon, surgical tech, first asst, surgeon and maybe a fellow if its a big case. and a clean up crew after your all done. Great !!!:yeah:

About the surgeons being "nice" well..the joke is across the o.r. doors they change into a different doctor. When you talk to the nurses on the floor they say how a certain doctor is and its like their talking about their twin!!!:nurse:

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Specializes in CCU, OR.

I've worked in five OR's. Either you love to OR or you absolutely hate it. I've been in the OR since 1984. I have had some past illnesses that made me wonder if I'd ever be able to get back into the OR. I tried a few other things and absolutely HATED them. I grumble;most of us do. The OR isn't perfect, but where I work now, UNC Chapel Hill, NC Health Care Systems is about as wonderful a place as I've ever worked. Our docs are pretty human, most of the teams pull together and help each other, and also help those of us who are doing our thing outside our teams. I work on the 3-11 shift and the off shift folks are the best team of people I've ever worked with. We help each other, period.

Now, we rarely get anything other than a lunch break. We encourage our techs to grab breaks between cases(and sometimes, we find someone to give them breaks cos our cases can last up to 18 plus hours at a time), but most circulators are busy seeing their next patient and making sure things are ok...we work together, the scrubs and the circs.

The interesting thing is that on the off shift, 3-11 basically, if we are taking a break in the lounge, and a team of us is tagged for a trauma, everyone but everyone will get up and head out together to make it go faster and make things go as well as possible for the patient.

However, in this economic time, the state is tightening their belt, which means that we are, too. Looks like we just lost raises for the next couple years and something called the "longevity" increase has been deferred for the next two years. Ah well. We are happy to have our jobs.

If you think that you'd be happy in the OR, see if you can shadow an OR nurse for a few days.

The most important things to remember in the OR is that every single case follows a rhythym; like a ballet, there is the set-up/warm-up, then the intro when the patient comes into the room and gets on the OR bed; the first act is the patient going off to sleep, getting any extra lines, foley caths, etc, positioned for the surgery, is prepped and draped. The second act is from the time out before incision to the closing of the patient, which is the third act; counts, cleaning up, etc. Fourth act is once the dressing is put on and the patient is extubated(or prepared for transport with with an ET to an ICU) and taken to the PACU. It's a dance, and once you spend enough time in the OR, you can see how everyone does their own dance, takes up his/her position and goes from there.

And then it all starts all over again for the next patient.

Helga

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Specializes in OR Hearts 10.
The most important things to remember in the OR is that every single case follows a rhythym; like a ballet, there is the set-up/warm-up, then the intro when the patient comes into the room and gets on the OR bed; the first act is the patient going off to sleep, getting any extra lines, foley caths, etc, positioned for the surgery, is prepped and draped. The second act is from the time out before incision to the closing of the patient, which is the third act; counts, cleaning up, etc. Fourth act is once the dressing is put on and the patient is extubated(or prepared for transport with with an ET to an ICU) and taken to the PACU. It's a dance, and once you spend enough time in the OR, you can see how everyone does their own dance, takes up his/her position and goes from there.

And then it all starts all over again for the next patient.

Helga

Helga, that was a great way to describe the OR.!!!!!

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Specializes in OR.

I went straight to the OR after graduation, so my only experience on the floor is through clinicals, but i have to say that I absolutely love only having one patient at a time, no call lights, always being guaranteed a lunch break, sometimes getting a morning break (we are severely understaffed, so half the time this doesn't happen), and on the occasions that I get out of work late, it's no longer than an hour, and staying an hour late is rare. It seems like, in the OR, people are so much more willing to work together as well. I also love the idea that I don't spend a ton of time giving meds (it's actually only on the rare occasion that I give meds at all). I have to agree with the person who said taking call is worth all the perks in the OR. I love that I can have a life outside my job. Right out of graduation, I scored a 6:30-3:00 slot, and since then, I've never worked one weekend. I know there will be the occasional odd shift I will have to work, but I'd say I have it much better than all of my friends who went straight to the floor after graduation.

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