Tell me something GOOD!

Ferret · Dec 2, 2005

I love the look of relief on a consultant's face when they walk into the room and see someone thay recognise on their team. I love the teamwork, the close relationships between nurses, surgeons, anaethetists, technicians, cleaners... this is a really close-knit team that might take some time to work out the kinks, but when they do... never on the wards will you find such a close relationship between all levels of staff.

The things bitched about on these forums, I believe, are the exception to the rule, and if you read the replies, often lots of people are saying that the people who have problems always have options for dealing with them, including going to other places where the team dynamic is different/better. I believe that a majority of people are in this forum, and this specialty, because they love their work, and have devoted many years to pursuing it.

Read between the lines in all this bitching, and you'll find a lot of love for all aspects of perioperative nursing, and you'll find a lot of people telling you why they do it, and believe you me, it's never for the money... none of us get paid enough.

I love scrubbing, the feeling of satisfaction in taking on a long and challenging case with big loan sets and keeping everything moving smoothly, keeping track of all my accountables and being able to hand the surgeon whatever s/he wants within moments of him/her asking for it, if not before. I love knowing the operation and the surgeon so well that we don't need to communicate about the surgery, and can be gaily swapping dirty jokes while the serious work is carried on swiftly and silently at a totally different level.

I love scouting, watching the operation, knowing the entire theatre block like the back of my hand and also being able to anticipate the course of the operation and the needs of the scrub and surgeon/s. I love taking on new people to the theatre block and showing them the ropes, then encouraging them to do things for themselves, and watching them grow in confidence and the field.

I love the times that the surgeon is stumped, and you offer a suggestion that turns the course of an operation from a difficult one into smooth sailing to the end.

Theatre nursing is seriously fun, and I know darn well I'd be useless on the wards and bored out of my wits as well.

Thnings are a bit different here in Australia compared to the US, but 'tis still theatre nursing.

Be well, have fun.

Ferret :devil:

SFCardiacRN · Dec 3, 2005

Well said Ferret. A lot of therapuetic venting goes on this site. I've done it too. I love surgery but I reserve the right to complain.:)

suzanne4, RN · Dec 3, 2005

I love the OR. Sure, you can ge the surgeon who is just a pain to work with, but the others make up for it. I would not trade all of my experiences in the OR for anything.

As with anything, people are going to complain when they are not happy; when things are going good, many are not going to take the time to write.

grimmy, RN · Dec 3, 2005

i agree with all that's said above - i would loathe being a floor nurse, and i had a great week, this past week! why would i ever want to do anything else? sure, there are times when you question everything, and wonder why you came to work that day, but for me, that's not everyday. most days are fast, some jokes, and bantering about with residents and team members. we turned on the all-christmas radio station during turnovers and danced and sang around the or. but we also have some hairy moments, too. i think this past week was such a relief for everyone because of the plethora of lung transplants we did over the thanksgiving holiday and weekend - a record of 8 singles and 3 doubles. that's a lot - no one got much sleep. where else can you be a part of a team that makes such dramatic and positive change for someone's life? i love being a periop rn. :)

MeggieRN · Dec 3, 2005

Thanks everyone! That makes me feel better. I know that there will be bad days but where im at now... thats everyday, so im looking to improve the situation. And I also here and now would like to reserve the right to complain, and I look forward to the sympathetic and understanding voices of all of you periop nurses who will encourage me to be a better nurse.

thanks to everyone. keep telling me good things about the or.

meg:)