To former ICU nurses now in the OR

[6xblessd]

Hi,

I've read quite a few posts from this board, going back an entire year. I have five years of med/surg and one year of ICU. When I went to the ICU at our local community hospital (100 beds) a year ago, I really thought I would love the unit. After a year of dealing with very poor management (boy, could I tell you some stories........but then again, most every experienced nurse I know has some management horror stories under his/her belt ) and a less-than-thorough orientation (although my manager spoke about a classroom orientation, it never materialized), I'm just not sure critical care is really for me. I burnt out quickly and don't have that burning desire anymore.

I'm done with floor nursing, med/surg is totally over for me, but I'm not sure I am done with hospital nursing yet. I've always been interested in the OR and am finally at a place in my life where I can think about getting a day job (kids in school, etc). I'm not afraid of call since I've worked a crazy night schedule for years now.

What I'd really like to know is what your experiences going from ICU to OR have been? My ICU had a lot of strong personalities, and orientation was pretty stressful, so I'm not really scared of personality issues. I'm no shrinking violet myself :chuckle. What kinds of problems/issues (if any) have you run into going from ICU to OR? Do you have any regrets?

And for experienced OR nurses who have dealt with training and/or working with new OR nurses who have come from the ICU, have you seen any common issues/problems?

Thanks,

Lauren

[Rae83]

I have been a nurse for 4 1/2 years. I started on ICU for 2 years and transferred to open heart surgery. I love the OR. I am now the OR educator at my facility. I will tell you that it is a completely different type of nursing than what you have on ICU. In ICU you have one or two patients that you know everything about and spend anywhere from 8-12 hours a day caring for. In the OR you have many patients come and go in one shift...not to mention they are not conscious (for the most part)...If you are able to I would suggest talking to the manager of the OR and see if you can spend a couple of days shadowing an OR nurse to see if it is something you are interested in doing full time.

Good Luck!

[crazymomagain1]

:specs:Hello! I have been a charge nurse on a CVSD unit to traveling doing Neuro Trauma, PACU and now found my place in nursing, at least for now...in the Cardiac cath lab for almost 3 years now! I get the excitement with STEMIs, I get "anything can happen with a basic Cardiac cath" to working with ICD and PPM placements to Cardio-mapping. I also get to do other things in the cardiovascular testing and procedure units. I am not sure about the actual OR but I love the unit I work in. I have worked in every hospital in my area and in 3 other states as a traveler. I prayed for a happy medium and found it. OR, PACU or cath lab isn't for everyone. Call isn't bad, money is good! Good luck!:wink2:

[cdsga]

i too worked icu then pacu then or. I loved the whole experience. I feel to this day that starting in the icu is best to learn assessment and looking for subtle signs that your patient is getting into trouble. looking at the ekg's knowing how to prioritize is learned in the icu. learning post op open heart care, rapid weaning and doing bedside procedures in the icu helped me learn sterile technique and assisting surgeons put in chest tubes or perform abd ultrasounds etc, etc.

i really got tired though of seeing very sick patients day in and day out.

pacu was a great transition from the icu, because pacu patients are icu patients really, only short term. then i went to the or because of the challenge and wanting to see what i could do without a stethascope.

i have stayed in the or and am now the educator. i really feel that my career experiences have made me a great asset to the anesthesia providers and the surgeon and can always put things together without being directed. that's where the icu experience comes into play. running codes in the or or assisting with quick changes in procedures, securing blood, drugs or extra equipment has helped me to anticipate and be prepared. i think it's the best of all worlds now.