What do I DO??

nubes · Apr 14, 2006

Dear Silly;

You must be feeling really down. What a shame... only 2 weeks! I would eat humble pie and try to get back on the course if you really want to do OR nursing.

Your instructor is actually preparing you for real life in the OR.

It is a very very hard environment where things happen fast and patients are completely under our supervision and care. You have to be able to tolerate undesirable people and actually work effectively with them for the good of your patient. Unfortunately there will always be the blue-eyed favorites in life. Because in spite of all you have heard, life is not perfect and neither are we!

Quite frankly, leaving your course because you could not stand the pressure does not speak highly of your skills of adaptability and flexibility.... and yes I do not know what it was like. But perhaps you could talk with people higher up and change lecturer... heck blame the pms but try to get back and finish.

If you cant face up to that, maybe OR is not for you, and you are far better knowing now than wasting your time.

cwazycwissyRN, RN · Apr 14, 2006

Are you in the USA or Canada? In the USA you could work in an OR without the certificate as long as you have your RN or BSN, in most facilities.

nambour51 · Apr 24, 2006

OR nursing can be high pressure with great deal of tension at times and everyone can get extremely stressed. But it is what happens AFTER the pressure is off that is also important. You felt the pressure and didn't go back, yet you had nearly completed the course. Was this incident the 'straw that broke the camels back' in that it was in response to an accumulation of events over a period of time or was it a once off due to stress? Take a look at yourself. Are you able to handle the pressure in the OR on an ongoing basis (remember we can all loose our cool sometimes)? you say you left out of 'frustration and anger' - do you need to consider anger management for yourself? Your instructor was 'bullying you" - should you consider assertiveness training to learn how to deal with bullying? Think about where you want to be in twelve months time. If this cerificate is important to you eat humble pie and see if you can finish the program. I do not know the length of your course but the fact that you were so close to finishing suggests that you are able to cope with pressure in the OR. A little humility (being willing to say I was wrong in quitting) at this stage may be what is needed to finish your course. Is it possible to have a mediation session with the Instructor? Try and take this experience as a learnig and growing opportunity.

Jo

silly1982 · Dec 30, 2006

Thank you to all that replied.

Well I new that that particular OR and instructor, were not right for me. The environment allows bullying and the whole group of nurses were very cliquey...making it very difficult for new OR nurses to be accepted and treated well.

After quiting I took six months off, was accepted into a masters program in a area outside of nursing, but decided that I couldn't just start something new without doing my OR certificate...prooving to myself that I can do it and am good enough....the woman, the instructor made me feel like a complete failure...she bullyed me and treated me no better than a stray dog.

So I went back and did a three month course on my own. In fact I moved to a whole new city accross the country to do this program. EVERYONE there loved me and treated me so well. It validated to me that I am not stupid (as the OR teacher had told me) and that I can be an excellent OR nurse.

I am so proud of myself. I just got the certificate in the mail. To anyone out there, students and nurses alike ...never give up, don't let one or two nurses/instructors decide what your future will be like or who you are.

ORSmurf · Dec 31, 2006

Silly,

Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for you ~ thanks for posting your update :)

Christine

nubes · Dec 31, 2006

YOU GO GIRL!!!!!

You have just proven to yourself and all that you are an extraordinary excellent OR nurse!!! WELL DONE!! Your determination and personal convictions are just what is needed!! YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY!!!. There will be no stopping you now.....