Spu/sds/ops

[mysticalwaters1]

Hey everyone. I've been working on a pulmonary/overflow med surg floor for 2.5 years and really really need a change. I was going to try ICU but no positions yet and came across an opening for SPU/SDS/OPS unit. I've tried to find threads on it here but there was no specific specialty of SPU on here but OR was. Anybody work in such a unit? If so can you give me an idea what you do there?

At my hospital I think a lot of it is assisting the doctors with mostly colonoscopy, EGDs, and bronchoscopy. But it is also same day surgery. I've heard of people with eye surgery go there.

I just wanted an idea of what a day may consisit of, what types of procedures, what work do you do in the unit prior to and after procedure, other work besides the specific procedure, and if people enjoy it there. I hear many people who transfer to our spu never leave it. A former coworker did and is not back so seems to be true. I've been searching stuff online and it appears maybe the nurse escorts the pt to get ready for procedure and hx then takes them to surgery assists and then assess and monitors after surgery. That sounds interesting. Is it usually done like that? Or are the nurses in one area? At the same time I don't want to just be an assistant to the doctor. As I reasearched more I like the setting up the pt, obtaining hx and inserting appropriate lines feels more as part of a team then my first thought of what it might entail.

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

Most SDS/OPS units are very fast moving surgical prep and recovery units. They do so many procedures through SDS/OPS anymore the surgicals that do come to a admit unit are usually major cases.

Carpel tunnels, ortho scopes, scheduled lap chole's, cataract surgery, colonoscopy, EGD's, lap banding, miringotomies, tendon releases, and im sure there are many more im not thinking of are checked in, preped, and recovered and discharged through SDS/OPS.

Best part is, most of those units have limited hour and NO NIGHTS, although some early morning hours kind of limit your evening plans. Good luck, i think it would be a good experience if you can get in. Usually there are a lot of people already employed with the facility that are standing in line for those jobs.

[mysticalwaters1]

Most SDS/OPS units are very fast moving surgical prep and recovery units. They do so many procedures through SDS/OPS anymore the surgicals that do come to a admit unit are usually major cases.

Carpel tunnels, ortho scopes, scheduled lap chole's, cataract surgery, colonoscopy, EGD's, lap banding, miringotomies, tendon releases, and im sure there are many more im not thinking of are checked in, preped, and recovered and discharged through SDS/OPS.

Best part is, most of those units have limited hour and NO NIGHTS, although some early morning hours kind of limit your evening plans. Good luck, i think it would be a good experience if you can get in. Usually there are a lot of people already employed with the facility that are standing in line for those jobs.

Thanks! Yea I barely see a job opening for it. It is an early morning start like 530 am to mid morning anytime start and oncall. I'm used to 3-11p so I'll see. At least I'll see my family afterwards. I don't have kids so I am flexible on my start time although not crazy about it. There is oncall. However it's every other weekend and "OCCASIONAL" holidays which seemed pretty neat!