starting in OR full time

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Im an SRNA starting full time in the OR next weekI just finsihed my 2 semesters didactic with mimial OR time. Anyone have any pointers? Im a bit nervous.

Thanks!\FLGAS

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Specializes in ICU, Surgery.

I am not an SRNA, I am an RN in the OR with a lot of SRNAS

My bit of advice is Be Nice to the STAFF! We can be extremely helpful in helping you adapt to the OR enviroment.

Good Luck :)

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I am an RN in the OR My bit of advice is Be Nice to the STAFF! We can be extremely helpful in helping you adapt to the OR enviroment.

Good Luck :)

Yes, Yes, Yes.....what CuttingEdgeRN says...If you're on a pedestal, get off it and treat everyone in the OR...RNs, Techs, Attendants, Housekeeping...etc.. with respect. Don't expect them to cowtow to you.

Say thank-you, for their help, to all in the room when you are leaving to go to PACU. I have done this every case, every day for 17 yrs. (15yrs + 2yrs of school) and I mean it everytime.

Prior to your first day, go to the OR during some off time, find a room that's unoccupied and do a run through of your set up (of course don't open tubes, syringes etc...)Think about dosages of the meds you may use. Do a machine check or 2 or 3 and play with the bed controls so you understand how to manipulate the bed. Time yourself for a set-up and decide if you need more practice.

Good luck and have fun.

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Yes, Yes, Yes.....what CuttingEdgeRN says...If you're on a pedestal, get off it and treat everyone in the OR...RNs, Techs, Attendants, Housekeeping...etc.. with respect. Don't expect them to cowtow to you.

Say thank-you, for their help, to all in the room when you are leaving to go to PACU. I have done this every case, every day for 17 yrs. (15yrs + 2yrs of school) and I mean it everytime.

Prior to your first day, go to the OR during some off time, find a room that's unoccupied and do a run through of your set up (of course don't open tubes, syringes etc...)Think about dosages of the meds you may use. Do a machine check or 2 or 3 and play with the bed controls so you understand how to manipulate the bed. Time yourself for a set-up and decide if you need more practice.

Good luck and have fun.

wow thanks! Thats great Advice. I don't think im on a pedastal at all! I think I will go in on friday and do a run through. I dont think Sunday is a good day. Also should I introduce myself to everyone? Including the surgeon? Hi im xxx im a new srna? " Thanks,

FLGAs

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make sure you introduce yourself to the nurses.

preferably at the start of the case.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency.

you know, i haven't thought about this until 8 months into clinical, but introducing yourself to the surgeon, before the mask is on, is not only professional but curteous. i would want to know who i was talking to and handling the gas. they may not care, some do and some don't. but i found that anything i can do to keep the heat off of me and onto, say a surgical resident, is just fine with me.

also, i found that several surgeons have similar interests and are more than willing to chat it up. it makes the scene much easier to work in. also, when you have a question regarding the surgery or body, they are more than willing to lend some info. it's actually quite nice.

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Specializes in CRNA, ICU,ER,Cathlab, PACU.
Im an SRNA starting full time in the OR next weekI just finsihed my 2 semesters didactic with mimial OR time. Anyone have any pointers? Im a bit nervous.

Thanks!\FLGAS

get some sleep...if you start getting fatigued you will be sluggish, frazzled when pimped by your attendings, and learn a lot less when its time to hit the books. quality study is better than raw quantity. it is a downward spiral if you start getting in sleep debt early on. set an unconditional "bedtime" for the rest of your days as an SRNA.

know the cases you are going to be in on...Jafee is concise and essential...http://www.amazon.com/Anesthesiologists-Manual-Surgical-Procedures-Richard/dp/0781714710.

don't get all fancy with didactic information when pimped in the clinical arena...stick to the basics.... most practicing people could care less about what an fa/fi ratio is, or how many ppm of trace nitrous are allowed in the OR...they may ask you, but your abilities will not be judged on esoteric crap, so don't let trivial information intimidate you if you dont know the answer.

don't be affraid to say "I have no clue...." if an attending or instructor says "well you should" promise them that you will get it down asap. respectfully offer to them to ask you again when you get it down (depending on the person, obviously)

show up on time...your first few weeks show up very early....if cut time is 0700 show up at 0600 or 0615 assuming your pre ops for the day are already taken care of. if you have spare time...bonus...go get some breakfast and coffee so you are quick on your feet the rest of the day.

follow the advice that others gave you about surgeons, staff etc...however, don't beat yourself up if you cross nasty people...if you work in a large enough hospital you are going to cross some that you will never please no matter how much you suck up to them...some jerks may respond well if you suck up to them...some may respond worse, don't take it personal...every personality can be hacked into.

good luck, and congratulations for making it this far...didactic is a lot more interesting when you can correlate it with what you do.

zrm

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also, i found that several surgeons have similar interests and are more than willing to chat it up. it makes the scene much easier to work in.

Make sure you "chat it up" before the case starts. Your responsibility during the case is to your patient, don't get into the "social" aspect of the OR. Nothing irritates me more as an instructor, then to watch my SRNA be the social butterfly of the room. Again, not your job, your job is to be vigilent and learn, not to make friends.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency.
Make sure you "chat it up" before the case starts. Your responsibility during the case is to your patient, don't get into the "social" aspect of the OR. Nothing irritates me more as an instructor, then to watch my SRNA be the social butterfly of the room. Again, not your job, your job is to be vigilent and learn, not to make friends.

sir yes sir !!!!

is there anything else i shouldn't do before not enjoying my time further?

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Some good advice so far.

Also, remember to be very verbal. This was difficult for me to grasp initially. I'm not a very talkative person to begin with, and rely alot on mannerisms and facial expressions to communicate (if that makes any sense). But remember that you are wearing a hat and a mask, and noone can see your facial expressions. Consequently, things that you may say, or mean, are sometimes not conveyed accurately.

Definately introduce yourself to the staff, and be very nice and humble. Even the techs and the housekeepers have important jobs, and they can make your's miserable if you make their's miserable. In other words, try not to leave them a mess. Hang up your leads, throw away your trash, etc.... As far as introducing yourself to the surgeons goes, don't waste your time...they don't care about you (at least not at this point in your experience). Once you get your feet under you and begin to do things more independently and are able to contribute some to the case, they'll open up a little towards you. But, for now, they are only concerned about a patient who is deep enough, and about not having to wait for emergence.

Also, I don't know about your program or your facility, but I can tell you that where I have been is absolutely miserable with lousy personalities. Myself and my classmates have been beaten down, insulted, and treated like idiots on a regular basis by quite a few of the attendings and CRNA preceptors that we have been with. I hope that you don't have to go through that and that your experience is more nurturing. But, if you do, just don't take it personally. Suck it up, try not to get frustrated, keep your mouth shut, agree with them even when you know they are wrong, keep your head down and move forward, and remember that every day you get through is another day behind you and another day closer to graduation.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency.
Some good advice so far.

Also, remember to be very verbal. This was difficult for me to grasp initially. I'm not a very talkative person to begin with, and rely alot on mannerisms and facial expressions to communicate (if that makes any sense). But remember that you are wearing a hat and a mask, and noone can see your facial expressions. Consequently, things that you may say, or mean, are sometimes not conveyed accurately.

Definately introduce yourself to the staff, and be very nice and humble. Even the techs and the housekeepers have important jobs, and they can make your's miserable if you make their's miserable. In other words, try not to leave them a mess. Hang up your leads, throw away your trash, etc.... As far as introducing yourself to the surgeons goes, don't waste your time...they don't care about you (at least not at this point in your experience). Once you get your feet under you and begin to do things more independently and are able to contribute some to the case, they'll open up a little towards you. But, for now, they are only concerned about a patient who is deep enough, and about not having to wait for emergence.

Also, I don't know about your program or your facility, but I can tell you that where I have been is absolutely miserable with lousy personalities. Myself and my classmates have been beaten down, insulted, and treated like idiots on a regular basis by quite a few of the attendings and CRNA preceptors that we have been with. I hope that you don't have to go through that and that your experience is more nurturing. But, if you do, just don't take it personally. Suck it up, try not to get frustrated, keep your mouth shut, agree with them even when you know they are wrong, keep your head down and move forward, and remember that every day you get through is another day behind you and another day closer to graduation.

Good luck.

i'm sorry you feel this way. i don't agree with you, and my experiences tell me otherwise. carry on as you wish, but i can assure you where i am and have been, that this makes things much easier (for me anyway).

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sir yes sir !!!!

is there anything else i shouldn't do before not enjoying my time further?

it's ma'am, yes ma'am ;)

And I'm not saying you can't enjoy yourself, just don't be the center of attention in the room. It applies not to just SRNAs but to CRNAs also. Again, focus should be on patient care not how your golf swing is going.

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