Yet another burnout thread

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Specializes in OR.

I have been in the OR for a little over two years. I left the first hospital OR I worked in for greener pastures. However, I have since ended up in a place that is just as bad as the first place. I learned at the last AORN convention that nurses don't quit their jobs, they quit their managers. That has been true for me. I did not feel supported by the managers at the first job, but fell even less support (at times) at the current job. I feel like pulling my hair out.

Let me just preface by saying I am a very hard worker. I don't mind hard work, and I have a pretty high tolerance level. I am requested by the surgeons because of my work ethic. I get consistently positive comments from my patients.

Now for my venting: The people that run the department sit at the nurses station laughing up a storm while the rest of us are running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

Instead, they could be implementing a concerted effort to organize the small OR we work in. I spend hours per week running after things that aren't in the right place, only to find we're out of stock, they've been moved or someone else took it into their room by mistake.

The rooms are not set up by the night crew. Sometimes I arrive and there isn't even a bed in my room. The other day I started at 0600 and did not get a break until after 1100. When I said I needed a break, the answer I got was "nobody got a break." As if that is an appropriate response. This is all too common where I am located (and seems to happen in many ORs).

What I need is support. Give me breaks at appropriate times. Have the night people set up the rooms (obviously if they have an emergency and aren't able to do so, that is fine) instead of sitting on their butts all night getting paid to do nothing. Divvy up the different aspects of the OR to nurses and techs so they are responsible for keeping things in stock/ordered. Give them the support they need to do their jobs.

When I left my first job, they said "why do all the good ones leave?". When I leave this one, they will say the same but will do nothing different. I am seriously considering leaving the OR all together and, honestly, the OR needs nurses with my work ethic and compassion.

It makes me very angry. :banghead: I think, right now, I am way beyond burnout leaning more toward burnt out.

Thanks for letting me vent.

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Specializes in 2 years school nurse, 15 in the OR!.

I left the OR too. Just like you I was tired of all the "crap." I did all the sinus cases and nobody ever gave me a break or lunch because they didn't like ENT. I would drink Slim Fast when I had to pee to get me through the day. I tried something different. I went to school nursing...UGH!!! I missed the OR so much I was miserable. I came back... I found a good place, we get a break every day and always get a lunch. Usually right at 11:00. People actually help you. Nurses who don't have a case help you open, prep, etc. You just have to find the right place. Trying something different helped with my burnout. I'm not saying it will work for you, but it's a thought. I realize now where I belong and what I am meant to do.

Good luck.

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Specializes in OR.

Thanks for your response. I am happy you found a place that is good for you. If I could find such a place, I would probably not be looking at work outside of the OR. The problem is, how do you find those places? I have been to three hospitals and the second and third lied to me in the interviews. How do you sus a place out? How can you tell when nurse directors are lying to you and just trying to get you to work for them? I guess the bonus offers should have been my first clue.

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I have been an OR nurse for many yrs now. I worked in a hospital with 5 OR's and a serious micromanager. I left there and went to a larger hospital and loved it. There were a bunch of rules but everyone had to follow them not just the people that were not in the mgrs "circle" or even worse (this is gonna offend someone)..don't attend THEIR church. Well during the time I was gone, the micromgr retired and I accepted a position back at that hospital....BIG MISTAKE!! There are standards not even close to met every day! The "cliques" are even worse now. I can not stand the OR I work in, so much I may leave to OR altogether if I don't find another one to work in VERY SOON!

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Specializes in OR.

It is true we quit our managers, not our jobs.

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Specializes in orthopaedics, perioperative.

To the original poster: OMG you sound like you work in a similar situation. Some days I wish I did not care so much, then it would be easier to deal with all the stress and incompetent aspects of working in such an environment. On top of all that, I have a clinical educator who constantly ignores my requests for learning specific things where I have deficits. I am just SOL I guess, because it seems that a lot of ORs are like this. :/

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Honestly as I sit and read all of these comments I see that our OR is just about the same. We have cliques and we have lazy butts and we have all of that. But when it comes to working in the room, we work together one way or the other because it turns out that we are all for the patient. As for no breaks...there has been a couple of times, but for the most part they attempt as much as they can. we have 15 OR rooms and it can become overwhelming for all. I at first hated my job hated being in the OR , but then I got to thinking...I love being a nurse and absolutely love the patients. (pediatric) And I really do try to be a positive thinker. So I ignore everything else. My manager is not the best either..its like she is floating on a cloud somewhere and has no idea what is really going on. Oh well I don't need her. I do however utilize my educater when it comes to problems she is awesome. I do remember working on the floor and let me tell you that is even worse. I think pretty much where ever you go in life even if it is not nursing people have problems. I have worked outside of nursing and it was even worse too. Don't give up none of you the world needs great nurses and so do OUR patients. REMEMBER....that IS what it is all about. (hope this helps some) :)

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

Some days are great, others suck! As the years go by you seem to feel you are all alone in a lot of tasks. Always depending on yourself and only yourself can start to feel very lonely. Never knowing if someone is going to come and help you out on those days where you really could use 4 arms and hands! All ORs have unique people and you will find out that there are those who you can never depend on, but there are a few that will come to your rescue when needed. My manager of 30+ years is retiring in a few months and it will be very interesting to see who they hire to replace her. All of us who have been here for so long know her personality and what she likes and what she doesn't tolerate. Time to get use to a new sheriff in town! You have to look at what drew you to OR nursing and why you stick it day after day. Personalities in the OR are very unique and strange at times, to say the least. Strong personalities are the worse, in the eyes of newbies, because you just never know what they will say today as opposed to yesterday. Split personalities are absolutely the worse because one day they are so nice and helpful, the next they are burning holes right through your head. You have to be strong willed to make it in the OR nowadays without ruffling a few feathers. I think if you can't depend on co-workers to help out then try be ready everyday without requesting help from them. Sometimes making them think you are well organized will have a reverse effect and they will see that you really don't need them. On the other hand be there when they need help, makes them look weak. Don't let a bunch of lazy-as* people run you out of the specialty you want to be in. Just suck it up and keep telling yourself that this is where I want to be and I am not going to let a bunch of idiots run me out! I have worked with the same people for many, many years and believe me there are days I just want to scream. They are the most helpful crew you could ever ask for, but they all have days where they are useless. We all have are days! I work two different places and they are just the same in many aspects and I have no problems. Getting more years under your belt tends to make you numb to certain situations. Good luck and don't give up yet

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Specializes in Operating Room.

There's a sign-on bonus where I work, and we get lunches, and most of the time breaks too. Sign-on bonuses doesn't always mean 'stay away from us!'

I hope you find a place that cares about their patients enough to do what's right for the nurses.

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Specializes in OR, community nursing.
Personalities in the OR are very unique and strange at times, to say the least. Strong personalities are the worse, in the eyes of newbies, because you just never know what they will say today as opposed to yesterday. Split personalities are absolutely the worse because one day they are so nice and helpful, the next they are burning holes right through your head. You have to be strong willed to make it in the OR nowadays without ruffling a few feathers. I think if you can't depend on co-workers to help out then try be ready everyday without requesting help from them. Sometimes making them think you are well organized will have a reverse effect and they will see that you really don't need them. On the other hand be there when they need help, makes them look weak. Don't let a bunch of lazy-as* people run you out of the specialty you want to be in. Just suck it up and keep telling yourself that this is where I want to be and I am not going to let a bunch of idiots run me out! I have worked with the same people for many, many years and believe me there are days I just want to scream. They are the most helpful crew you could ever ask for, but they all have days where they are useless. We all have are days! I work two different places and they are just the same in many aspects and I have no problems. Getting more years under your belt tends to make you numb to certain situations. Good luck and don't give up yet

Love your post. I am in the 7th month of my orientation .... everyday ... I ask why these people so strange .. nice one hour and totally crazy the next. I have worked in the OR as a CST and still have trouble dealing with some of these personalities. Can't wait to become numb as you said because OR can be a lot of fun.

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