SRNA Health Maintenence

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Aug 10, 2005

Congratulations, I hopefully will start in Jan:)

arkgolfer · Aug 11, 2005

Extremely comfortable shoes!! You won't sit down for a few weeks.

heartICU · Aug 11, 2005

Suggestions for first full week in OR?

Get there early. Is this your first clinical, or just first time being there all week? If it's your first clinical, get there early. Nothing adds to the stress of being in the OR for the first time than realizing you didn't grab a working BP cuff or are missing something else and having to run and get it while others wait on you.

rn29306 · Aug 11, 2005

Go with an open mind.

No matter what your past experience, you are walking into an alien, fast-paced world.

Realize you are starting from square one. And be OK with that.

Try and see the BIG picture. See the flow, the movement of things, and how the patient moves from one place to another through the stages of preop, surg, PACU, and then elsewhere. Try and see the requirements to each transition. Details will come, but see the flow.

Imagine your left wrist is absolutely fused. DO NOT CRANK BACK.

As a new SRNA, be kewl in knowing that new or perfect teeth on the front = dental guards until you learn the above rule.

Everybody puts the tube in the goose at one point or another. Goose = esophagus.

If anesthesia were easy, you'd have alot more classmates. And so would I.

Preox, preox, then preox 1 more minute.

Take the rules you currently know about dosing fentanyl as a staff RN and chunk these out the window.

Don't put the sat probe on the same hand as the NIBP arm. Drives all of us crazy.

Talk to your patient.

Be an eager student.

Quietly do your job without much fanfare for six months - CRNAs, MDs and patients alike will love you for this.

During these six months, develop your thinking skills so that you are thinking 30 minutes ahead from where you are currently.

Intubate, chart, get caught up - then set up for your next case as far as your tabletop goes.

Develop your confidence. Be a poker player in the OR without the silly sunglasses you see on TV. Half of this is conveying expertise, even if you are winging it. People feed off this. Surgeons do this also.

Good luck, you are in for an awesome experience. Everyone will tell you, "this is the best thing I have ever done". Me too.

maturner · Aug 11, 2005

The disposition of the person at the head of the bed, dictates the dispostion of the rest of the room. You exude calm, they remain calm. You exude fear, they become fearful. You get anxious, they get anxious. You panic, well you get the picture...

Never let them see you sweat, you may be about to explode on the inside, but on the outside you are one cool smooth customer.

You are stressed and fool of anxiety, but so was everyone else in the room on their first day... You may feel alone, but you are not alone

Calm, but porposeful

Smooth, but deliberate

Intubation = gentle and smooth

Anesthesia key word: SMOOTH

No worries, its all been done before. Take it in stride.

yoga crna · Aug 12, 2005

It's difficult to add to the excellent comments of others, but here are a few more.

1. Learn the politics of the operating room: when to open your mouth, when to keep quiet , when to joke, when to be somber.

2. Be nice to everyone, especially the lower level personnel. They can help you in unbelievable ways; they have frequently been there forever and have seen a lot. I'm talking about orderlies, sterile processing techs, OR techs, cleaning personnel, secretaries, etc. Many OR RNs can be abrasive to anesthesia students. Figure out a way to deal with these people. I have established a great rapport with my RNs, but I still must be careful not to talk about money or other hot button issues. There can be resentment there.

3, Ask questions, read and be prepared to relearn a lot of things you were sure you understood as a critical care nurse. Giving propofol for anesthesia is different that in the ICU.

4. Balance in your life is critical. Try yoga, it works.

Yoga, CRNA