Those who love working in ortho

Straydandelion · Oct 25, 2008

You might try NAON also, I always thought Ortho was challenging but an opportunity to learn also.

http://www.orthonurse.org/

barbyann · Oct 25, 2008

I loved the restoration factor of ortho. We gave people new hips and knees and made them pain FREE and with a better quality of life. I loved seeing people months later in the market and seeing them without their canes. Very rewarding for a nurse.

I disliked ortho because of the physical challenges for nurses. Not enough staff to prevent on-the-job injuries. I also hated the constant bedpan requirements of the LOLs. The MDs are taking the foleys out way too early IMHO.

lpnflorida · Oct 25, 2008

Ortho, is very fast paced, due to the amounts of admissions, surgeries etc. I have enjoyed the times I have been pulled to the ortho unit. Time flies by as you will be constantly busy especially with the amount of pain medications given out . You will become very familiar with blood transfusions. Patients do not stay long rarely beyond 3 days anymore it seems.

Riseupandnurse · Oct 26, 2008

You want to work in ortho because it is acute care and therefore fast-paced and stimulating, and yet so very much depends on what the nurse (vs. the dr.) does. Basic nursing issues like pain, mobility, nutrition, encouragement, are squarely on the nurses and make a world of difference in how the patient does. Also, almost everyone gets well and goes home. Many recover completely and many have elective surgery that drastically improves their quality of life. So there is a hope and a purpose to an ortho floor (at least for some of the patients) that you don't see in many of the other specialities. And ortho docs are known for being kind and sympathetic. (Ok, I made that last one up.)

oliveralways · Oct 26, 2008

Hey,

I came out of Nursing school and went to an ortho/trauma floor, in hindsight, it was the best move. I gain a good med/surg background (a lot of patients come in with various complications) and gain a speciality (ortho) and learned a LOT about pain management. I also feel that I was more independent on the ortho floor as opposed to other floors I worked on. You get to know the ortho-pods and build a positive relationship and over time they listen. I got the position b/c I expressed an interest in wounds and research. Good luck

oh, by the way...I have more than 1 year of experience...need to up date the profile :)

zuzi · Oct 26, 2008

Why I love ortho???

Becauase nothing is like ORTHO. Ortho is for strong women. Ortho is for strong and weak patients. Is about pain and disabilities. Is about "I WANT TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE" is about hope to dance again. I had couple of oldies that told me after a total knee replacement that they wish to dance again, loool, Is about pedal pulse and coumadin and INR (loveeee it), is about the most painful surgery in the body, is about blood and I will keep you without pain but NEVER I will over sedate you. Is about balance. Is about the first step on the floor and about "look Zuzi I walk, yeaaaaahy" and first .. thank you to take care of me...is about a swollen hip cyanotic postop and is about a cute hip striped tanga underware on the same hip 3 weeks after (loooool, don't tell them this on interview) is about hope, about people hope to live better and your hope to be THE ORTHO NURSE! Go for it gurl you will be ok, if is that what you want!

uscstu4lfe · Oct 26, 2008

i am working on an ortho floor. Physical Therapy deals with mobility. As a nurse, bar none, the thing I do most is push pain medication. I give dilaudid IVP like it's liquid candy.