what does it take to be an OR nurse?

[lenjoy03]

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?

[mikethern]

hmmmm... What's avodart? I haven't heard that before.

It is one of a few new drugs that shrink benign prostatic hypertrophy.

[lenjoy03, RN]

Oh I see.. thanks... I'll try to research on that med.

[LV_ORnurse]

I'm a new grad RN in Cali. and very much intereseted in working in the OR. Any nurses out there who started sraight to OR? Any advices are welcome.

[mikethern]

I'm a new grad RN in Cali. and very much intereseted in working in the OR. Any nurses out there who started sraight to OR? Any advices are welcome.

I entered the O.R. as a new grad in 1996. It was the toughest year of my life, but floor nursing probably would had been tougher.

Repost from my past comments....

If you decide to become an O.R. nurse, be prepared......

to be verbally abused by physicians, nurses, and techs.

to work your butt off.

to lift heavy objects. (Many O.R. nurses damage their back).

to be very exposed to patient body fluids, x-radiation, formalin, cleaning solutions, and other hazardous chemicals.

to memorize endless instruments, supplies, and surgical techniques.

to be required to take call.

-----------------

Advantages:

You almost always get coffee breaks and lunch breaks.

You deal with only one patient at a time.

Difficult patients are much easier to deal with in the O.R. because they are drugged most of the time.

Surgery can be fascinating.

You wipe patient's butts only once a month or so.

[ewattsjt]

Mike, that’s a good disadvantage/advantage prospective.