what does it take to be an OR nurse?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Hi... I just graduated here in the Phil. I'm planning to take NCLEX after few months if I pass our NLE.

Actually, I have lots of choices when it comes to areas. I really enjoyed being in the OR, ICU and ER. But I prefered to be in the OR. Honestly speaking, I really hate cleaning poops! Yah! That is my greatest weakness in any area! Can't stand it! So I was thinking of an area who requires less hands-on when it comes to cleaning poops! But that doesn't mean nursing is not my passion. OR is the first area where I really enjoyed what I was doing... I know the long standing really gives me an ache, but the mere observation of the operation and able to hold organs, tumors, embryo (embryo) from an ectopic preg, veins, ovary bigger than a human head, and other stuff in the flesh really motivates me to work there!

I just want to know, what does it take to be an OR nurse in the US? How does it feel? Can you please share some of your experiences?

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I really love being in the OR. It really felt something.. Can't explain it.. Sometimes it's as if I'm really meant to be in that place. Have anyone felt this way also? I can't explain the feeling especially when an operation is on going... I never felt that way in other areas.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

In the U.S., our surgeons are known for having explosive temper tantrums and generally horrible attitudes toward OR nurses and other support staff. In other words, you may need plenty of maturity, inner strength, and patience to deal with surgeons who might act rudely on most days. I apologize for bringing up a negative aspect, but I felt that it needed to be mentioned.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Its ok! We can't always expect a smooth relationship with the doctors! Sometimes, even if their abusive, we still have to understand them. Because when the operation starts, its a matter of life and death for the patient.

But you know what! Here in the Philippines, I wont mention the hospital, some residents and consultants are really kind to the extend that they act like you know each other for years! One time, I scrubed with a resident who bullies an intern. It was just a total thyroidectomy. I was helping the intern answer some of the residents' questions. The situation was really funny! After few months, I found out that that resident was a member of the board of our school. Oops!

I really hope I can find lots of surgeons who are matured enough and low profile to make things light for the whole team there in the US!

Thanks for the info....

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Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.

negative behavior from an MD is not a right, nor a privilege. As OR nurses, we cannot continue to accept this negative behavior & "understanding" it DOES NOT make it ok or acceptable.

Also, we get our fair share of poop in the OR. I probably have to do poop patrol at least twice weekly, if not more. . .

Imagine, a patient coming to the OR dirty!! It happens, more than anyone realizes or would like to admit...OH, & not just poop, either. . . Broken glass, gravel, grass & weeds, ummmm, let's see, what else? mostly grass & glass. I really love when we have dirty muddy feet we have to operate on!! Good times getting that one ready to prep!!! UGHGHGHG

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Specializes in Postpartum, Antepartum, Psych., SDS, OR.

Along with plenty of poop on a bowel case from HELLO, I will mention the bed sores that require vick's save, pepperment or some high powered smelling agent to at least make the odor minimally bearable!!! Amputations may be some of the worst things a patient has to undergo along with the staff too. There are many things worse than poop, maybe a lingering TURP odor............

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Specializes in Operating Room.
In the U.S., our surgeons are known for having explosive temper tantrums and generally horrible attitudes toward OR nurses and other support staff. In other words, you may need plenty of maturity, inner strength, and patience to deal with surgeons who might act rudely on most days. I apologize for bringing up a negative aspect, but I felt that it needed to be mentioned.

It is getting better though-many places are moving towards incident reports for bad surgeon behavior and anger management for chronic offenders. I have actually experienced more respect from docs in the OR than on the floors. They actually listen to what you have to say-especially when troubleshooting.

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Specializes in Psych, substance abuse, MR-DD.

Well I'm not an OR nurse YET, hopefully starting in September though!

By "what does it take" do you mean what qualities should an OR nurse have?

I think it will take good communication and organizational skills, good teamwork, assertiveness, and maybe a bit thicker skin. I also think you need a good attitude and readiness to learn. I'm up for the challenge:)

Experienced nurses please correct me if I'm wrong!

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Listen to TracyB! Yes, you will still have to clean poop, or WORSE! I felt the same way but my drive to be in the OR was more intense than my disdain for dirty diapers on adult patients. You will get patients with MRSA (which can smell much worse than a "code brown"). For instance just yesterday we had a 500 lb. patient with MRSA come in for a leg amputation (which was due to gruesome ulcers and peripheral occlusive disease) and the festering lesions on this leg looked and smelled like...I can't even describe it, it was the reason he was having his leg taken off, I can tell you that. And you have to go in there and scrub this baby with betadine and its dripping on you! Your nose becomes numb to it and the only reason you know it smells so intensely is when someone else steps into the room and is like "God, how can you stand it in here!?" But you get over these things if you really want to be an OR nurse. From the way you describe your love for blood & guts it sounds like you belong in the OR! There is a special feeling that you get from working here, that you are among the elite, that what you are doing is making the ultimate difference even though it is a thankless job (your patients may not even remember you since they are anesthetized), and when people ask "What do you do for a living?" you feel pretty cool when you tell them that you are a surgical nurse. I can say that it isn't for everyone, for every 4 nurses we hire only one or two will make it through orientation and then only half will stay after the first year. The bad attitudes are usually what will get you but if you bring your "A game" and a friendly humor you will make it!

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well said tall blondie! also i agree that surgeons are calming down with less and less physical tantrums. not that they are gone, just less. a lot will still mentally abuse you if you let them. there are ways around this.

smells can be horrible. if the smell of an abscess like a rotten leg is too much, you can rub something like vicks under your nose. it only helps lessen the stench.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Oh wow! Thanks tallblondie! Now I'm really excited to be an OR nurse. The mere stories of how complicated your experiences are, motivates me more to be an OR nurse! honestly speaking, I really like it when I can see rare and unusual cases. It really challenge not only my mental but emotional aspect as well. My, my!!!! I'm really excited!!!!!!

And for me, it doesn't really matter if the patient remembers you or not. Seeing that person alive after the operation is enough. Because I'm not doing my job to be recognize by the patient, I'm doing it because I enjoy doing it! The patient may not see it, but I know someone who does. And He can see how hard you work.... ; )

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Specializes in Palliative Care, NICU/NNP.

Good legs and feet and good shoes. A strong bladder.

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