Way to go on describing what we do as circulators in the OR!! I have been an OR nurse for 20 years!! Still never gets old. I love being that patients advocate!!
This is why I am going this direction with my nursing. While working as a cna I got burned out on patients. I still wanted to be in the nursing field but wanted a break from patients calling me every minute. Seems like with this speciality that I still get to do nursing and help patients but then they get rolled off to the recovery room where another nurse helps them the rest of the way. Maybe just the burn out talking but I want to help with the operation but not be a slave to the call bell or dealing with family members. Just do my job and go home.
Thank you for explaining the OR nurse! This will definitely help me on my OR nurse interview in a couple of days! All I want to do is be in the OR and now i have a better understanding and makes me love it even more.
I just happened to be rolling around CZcams searching for some tips on new OR nurses. I actually have 8 years of OR experience as a surgical tech in the military but I just graduated this last May. I got a phenomenal job as an OR nurse and I start in just a week. While it wasn't anything new, your little synopsis was one of the best I think I've seen! Great job! I'd love to see an update. Your scrubs caps were adorable!! Then I saw your Harry Potter videos and that you're a Whovian....and I'm sure of it....you must be family I've just somehow never met, haha. Love it!
neyozeka I can’t believe I’m just now seeing this comment! Thank you for all your kind words! Congrats on graduating and starting your OR nurse career. And it’s great to know that there are other geeky nurses out there! Haha! Thanks for watching!
I'm a student in a surgical tech program and I've met some really awesome circulators at the hospital that I might do my clinicals at. They go under lots of pressure and I admire them because somehow they keep their cool. Great video!
I absolutely love your energy! Very informative video! I am waiting to hear if I get the Graduate Nurse Residency in the OR in the next couple of days! I am nervous and excited and pray that God shows favor that I can experience this opportunity so early in my nursing career! Subscribed✔️
OMG you have given me some light. I m going to apply for jobs but i feel like i have to do telemetry, med-surg, oncology etc as a new nurse. This got my heart pumping happy instead of stressed. Hopefully they ll hire new nurses in my area. This is what got me the most exited when i was in my clinical rotation, the OR.
I loved this video. Thank you for being so informative and thorough. I am about to accept an OR job at a level 1 trauma center but I'm still nervous about the commitment and this being my first RN job out of school. My OR pull out day was such a great experience and I really enjoyed the teamwork and communication I observed. My biggest fear is that it won't be fast-paced enough and I don't mean ED fast because that is a nightmare job for me. I just want to be up and moving around because that is one of my main reasons for deciding to be a nurse. Do you have any advice on what OR specialties to go for?
I'm still in nursing school and thinking about wanting to precept in the OR next semester. I rotated once to the OR and it was AMAZING!!! I enjoyed every second of it. I didn't even want to go to lunch and meet up with my classmates during it. However, my previous clinicals haven't given me many opportunities to do much outside of besides bed baths and linen changes so i'm trying to get a lot of experience before i graduate. People have told me to go to the ICU, PCU, ER, or a med-surge floor to get a lot of experience. Would I be able to practice some fundamental stuff like inserting an IV, cath, etc. in the OR? Any advice would be appreciated
Hi there! Thanks for the comment and the question! I remember being right where you are in the nursing program and my first day observing in the OR- I knew it was the place for me. But it took me a while to get there. I started on a med-surg unit after graduation and worked the midnight shift for 3 years before applying to the OR. Although med-surg was difficult and those were among the most challenging years of my life, I am thankful for the many on-the-job lessons I learned and it was beneficial to learn them before getting to the OR. I have had co-workers who started in the OR right out of school and they honestly have found it overwhelming to not only learn all the OR basics, but the basics of nursing as well. All that being said, my advice is to start in an ICU, ED, or med-surg before going to the OR. But only you know how you best learn. Wishing you success in your nursing career!
Thank you for this video, watching this in 2019 lol. I'm graduated nursing last year, and I am considering going into OR nursing. What would be some resources/programs/certificates that you or any other OR nurses would recommend to better prepare for this nursing position?
I have never worked as an ER nurse before so I don't have first hand knowledge of your role-- I do know that I couldn't do it-- It is very high pressure from what I can tell! And that seems to be one of the barriers to transitioning to the circulator role. Many of my co-workers who have transitioned from the more intensive units (ER/ICU) find the OR to be much "slower" or even "boring". Not to say that the OR is easy-- it just can be a different pace than the more intense nursing roles. A lot more of "hurry up and wait" if that makes any sense. But these co-workers usually don't last long and they seek more challenging work somewhere else. However, my advice to an ER nurse wanting to check out the OR would be to transition to a level one trauma hospital. It is fast paced and challenging. Even when I was looking for jobs after Mercy Ships, I started looking at surgical centers vs. hospitals and the pace was really slow for me. I was told that these ORs were usually for the more seasoned OR nurse that wanted to ramp down before retirement and I still wanted some challenge at my young age ;). But it really comes down to preference. Thanks for the question and for watching!
Thanks for sharing the information about perioperative nursing. I am finishing up the first year of my nursing school (2 more years to go). I'm really interested in becoming an OR nurse. Do I have a chance at a new grad to be hired on as an OR nurse or do I need a couple of years as a Med Surge nurse before applying for the OR nurse? Thank you again for the videos. Good luck on your nursing journey.
Thank you so much for this great video! I'm considering applying to the OR and this was very informative. I'm trying to find my niche as a nurse and hoping this will be it. BTW I love your nose ring. Are you allowed to wear it at work in the OR? I really want to get one but haven't due to dress code at work. Thanks!!!! Peace and blessings.
JocelynMarieTV, honestly ? This may just be me, but I wouldn't wear one on an interview. Maybe if it's a small stud. I don't see where it would be a problem in the OR since you will usually be wearing a mask. We could only wear small studs in our ears. Good luck!
Here are a few questions that they will probably ask. I was interviewed by 6 managers all at once! It was a round table interview! Each manager represents a certain OR specialty (ortho, cardiac, urology/gynecology, general, plastic, and neuro) Here are the questions/answers. These were the questions asked and the answers were what I made up on the spot. I had to write these questions down because my friend applied to the same OR and interviewed a week after I did. We both got the job and now working together! Question: Tell us of a time when you had a conflict with another co-worker, how did you resolve it? (Conflict resolution is KEY! There are often conflicts between the surgeon and the nurses) Answer: When I came into work one day, a co-worker of mine was very angry when interacting with me. Instead of reacting to her inappropriate behavior, I asked if she had a bad day and if there is anything that I can help her to make it better. We all have bad days, so I tried to be a little bit more empathetic. Question: Give us an example of a time when someone asked you to perform a task that was outside of your scope of practice. How did you handle it? Answer: I remember when I was a CNA, a nurse asked me to increase the oxygen level on a nasal cannula. I knew that oxygen is considered a medication because there are risks associated with over oxygenation and this requires clinical judgments. I reminded the nurse that I am not allowed to this but if she needed help, I could ask another nurse to help her. Those were the hardest two questions that I remember. Good luck, you got this!
Hi Jesse! Without knowing the kind of OR you will be working in/your responsibilities as an intern, here are some general things to keep in mind... my biggest advice would be to ASK QUESTIONS. You are there to ultimately learn about the specialty so don't be afraid to ask questions about what you are seeing, especially the roles and responsibilities of the nurses. Determine when it is best to jump in and help or stay out of the way. Personally, I learn best by doing and there are going to be times when an extra set of hands will be wonderful in the OR-- plus it shows that you have initiative, which is great on a resume. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, will I be contributing to the situation positively or negatively. Example: a trauma comes in and we are going through sponges very quickly. If I help count the sponges on and off the field, will I be helping or hurting the situation? Do I know what I'm doing? Follow directions! Nothing will make a circulator nurse more nervous than when you don't respect the sterile field. Pay attention and be aware of your surroundings. Stand where they tell you to stand, help them how they instruct you to help. Finally, don't lock your knees and eat a good meal before work. If you start to feel faint (which has happened to a lot of people-- don't be embarrassed)-- let someone know right away! I hope that this is helpful and if you have any further questions, I'm more than willing to answer them in this thread. Bottom line though: this is super exciting! Hopefully from this internship you will receive a clear indication whether OR nursing is right for you! :)
super cool! thanks for responding! so many questions right now, still waiting to be assigned a preceptor, but I'll write back again if I feel the need for more guidance.
How can I able to work as a circulator nurse in OR after finished ny bachelor of nursing? Should I continue my study in particular of circulation nurse?
Been a med-surg tele nurse for 8 years. I'm looking for a change of pace. How long is the training and orientation? I don't have any previous OR or surgical department. I only had 1 clinical day as a student, but that was a long time ago and I just observed. So I'm watching CZcams videos to familiarize myself
I had a similar experience as you-- I had the one clinical day in the OR and I was hooked from that moment. Unfortunately, I was told that operating room nursing wouldn't be taught in nursing school. I worked 3 years med-surg and needed a change. It's a catch 22 though-- most ORs won't hire nurses without experience, but how do the new OR nurses gain that experience? Anyway, I found a hospital that was willing to hire, not only inexperienced nurses, but also nurses straight out of school. My orientation was about 6 months-- a mixture of classroom work through AORN, shadowing, and on the job training. Thanks for watching :)
Same here. They just don't want to train new people. I lucked up though and they transferred me. They started me out scrubbing to learn the cases, instruments and sterile technique. I loved it for 16 years. Unfortunately, my back just couldn't take it anymore. Ironic since spine was my specialty!
Hi! I love your video. May I ask which hospital do you work? I am also a Theatre nurse by profession. I am a newbie, do you have any advice on how to handle difficult surgeons?
kamiya008 I actually don't currently work at a hospital. I'm going to be traveling with an organization called Mercy Ships for the next 3 months. As for the difficult surgeons, that has been a real concern for me. Surgeons like that can make or break your day as you probably know. Not only are they a pain to work with, but they can put your patients in danger. If you feel like speaking up for your patient could cause negative repercussions for you, mistakes can go on by. What has helped me is remembering that-- if I don't speak up, mistakes happen and I'm ultimately there to protect my patients. And if it isn't a matter of safety, I just KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS. I've had surgeons just baffled by the way that I act when they snap at me. There are also those surgeons that just have odd personalities. One in particular wanted you to bark back at him because he enjoyed the heated banter. And that is totally not me, but with practice, I learned to deal with him. I hope this helped and thank you for the idea for a future video!!!
I appreciate that you gave time in replying to my question. Thank you! I guess even if I had a few years of experience in my previous work as a theatre nurse, it would always be different for every country and for every hospital. I hate it when I'm the newbie, I am placed at a position where I have to please everyone. The most difficult part for me now is, adjusting to almost everything (I was trained using the American standards, European protocols are very different!) But I hope I'll get through it soon.. Thank you again!
Hi +kamiya008 ! I am a newbie OR/Theatre Nurse as well and I must say it's really hard. How are you coping up so far? I have trouble memorizing all the instruments. I have always been in love with theatre nursing but right now it really intimidates me :( Hope I will get through this initial stage. :(
Hello laaaRen87. Thank you for your video. Soon I'll be having a interview to become an OR nurse. Currently I work in Med/Surg tele unit. I am excited but at the same time I am a bit scared. Could you please tell me how was it for you at the beginning and how long it took for you to be comfortable in the OR.
I'm sorry that I missed this question! I really hope that your interview went well. I'm planning on doing a video in the near future regarding interviewing with confidence. Anything you learned from the experience that you'd be willing to share? As to my first month in the OR, it was pretty overwhelming at first. There was a lot to learn and I had to be quick on my feet and take initiative in the room. I'm a kinesthetic learner so the OR is well suited for me in that you have to know how to put things together/fix things/make things work. Within a few months, I was able to work independently in the OR. But I'm not going to lie, there are still times when I feel uncomfortable in the OR. Because of the advancements in medicine, every specialty has new procedures, new equipment, and new supplies continuously. There has been many a time where I've been thrown into those situations and I need to figure it out as quickly as possible-- for the team, for the surgeon, but ultimately for the patient. In those moments, I take a deep breath, prioritize/analyze the situation, and dive in. Keep in mind though, operating room nurses are part of a team. When I can't figure something out or don't know where to start, I turn to my colleagues to point me in the right direction. Thanks for the question!
What's your thoughts on a nursing career? I've been thinking about going into it (not sure what specialty I'd like yet) but I always read all these negative things online about nursing and its discouraging. What are your thoughts on it? Any regrets?
I am a certified wound care nurse for many years. I could use a change and the local hospital is hiring for a peri operative internship. I was thinking about applying. Do you think the general surgeons,would appreciate my experience and let me help with putting on any wound vacs in OR . Do circulators help apply dressings. I would love to be in there to see the surgeries etc
susan snyder unfortunately surgeons dont really like suggestions. Depends on relationship also, but as a circulator u dont do dressings, either a scrubbed in PA, NP or SA (surgical assistant) would do that.
i am new to the OR. the biggest challenge i am facing right now is that i cannot hear the doctor very well because of the mask. it kinda sounds mumbly to me and with that it kinda annoys them if i keep on asking them to repeat. i went to the hearing specialist to have my hearing checked, but the result is all normal. but i am so frustrated not understanding what the doctor wants. i am still in my orientation in the OR. what do you think or can you advise to me in my situation?
+d3r3kyasmar Thanks for the question! It is definitely a challenge hearing and more importantly understanding the surgical team. The mask can not only muffle what is being communicated, but if you are working with people with different accents or nationalities it can be doubly challenging. And when you're new to the OR, there is so much new equipment and terms to learn that it is easy to mistake one request for another. My advice is... give yourself time. You WILL develop what we call, "OR ears". I didn't believe it when I started, but when I started training people for the OR, they were looking at me like I was reading minds or something. You start to notice mumbled conversation and feel the rhythm of the room. But you have to be patient with yourself-- you can't be expected to learn everything in a week. And there's still miscommunications. I still will mishear something and deliver the wrong instrument. What I've found the grumpiest, finicky surgeon wants is to know people are paying attention and trying their hardest. If you are eager to learn and attentive to the team's needs, you will stand out from the crowd. I hope that this helps!
Can you tell me if I can possibly get a job as a Circulator Nurse if I'm a new grad. I ask because I applied to this exact job with a hospital who should see in my application/resume that I graduated last year (still no job) and now my application is in Manager review (sounds good so far). I think I can be trained and surgery is the one thing I always wanted to do.
wiwut Yes, it is possible to get a job in the OR as a new grad. The hospital I currently work at accepts new grads, but this is because of two things, 1) it's a teaching hospital 2) the turnover rate is really high. Although I have coworkers that are new grads and are very proficient in their job, I would suggest gaining experience as a floor nurse before pursuing a job in the OR. I can't tell you how many times I've been in a situation in the OR where I'm able to critically think better and faster because of my floor nurse experience. However, it really comes down to knowing yourself- if you feel ready for the OR, by all means- apply! We need fantastic nurses in this specialty. Thanks for watching!
The Musical Nurse, I definitely agree every new nurse should work at least one year on a med-surg floor! Where I worked , we did a few straight local cases. The RN (ACLS cert) monitors the patient instead of a CRNA. You need to know meds and disease processes because the RN will also be giving IV meds. I have had a patient go bad on me during a simple procedure and you better know what to do.
I am 41 years old Korean RN without training in a hospital yet. This video is really interesting to me let me have desire to work in an OR field. Thank you so much for making this video. btw I have a question. Can a over 40 years male nurse start this career to last up over 60 as a permanent career? I am now on a entry gate to a hoapital setting work field having lots of afraid about my career. @@
Way to go on describing what we do as circulators in the OR!! I have been an OR nurse for 20 years!! Still never gets old. I love being that patients advocate!!
This is why I am going this direction with my nursing. While working as a cna I got burned out on patients. I still wanted to be in the nursing field but wanted a break from patients calling me every minute. Seems like with this speciality that I still get to do nursing and help patients but then they get rolled off to the recovery room where another nurse helps them the rest of the way.
Maybe just the burn out talking but I want to help with the operation but not be a slave to the call bell or dealing with family members. Just do my job and go home.
beanandpopcorn I love being a nurse, and have for 22 years. But the last 9 years as a circulator have been the best! The patients are unconscious. 😂
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Your video was so informative and cute. I accepted a job in the OR as a circulatory nurse, with 6 month training course. I'm so excited.
I just accepted a position in the OR as a Circ Nurse. How did your orientation go?
I know it has been years for you two, but can you tell me what your experience was like?
Thank you for explaining the OR nurse! This will definitely help me on my OR nurse interview in a couple of days! All I want to do is be in the OR and now i have a better understanding and makes me love it even more.
I’ve been a surgical nurse/ circulator almost 20 years. I love being an OR Nurse!!❤️
I just happened to be rolling around CZcams searching for some tips on new OR nurses. I actually have 8 years of OR experience as a surgical tech in the military but I just graduated this last May. I got a phenomenal job as an OR nurse and I start in just a week. While it wasn't anything new, your little synopsis was one of the best I think I've seen! Great job! I'd love to see an update.
Your scrubs caps were adorable!! Then I saw your Harry Potter videos and that you're a Whovian....and I'm sure of it....you must be family I've just somehow never met, haha. Love it!
neyozeka I can’t believe I’m just now seeing this comment! Thank you for all your kind words! Congrats on graduating and starting your OR nurse career. And it’s great to know that there are other geeky nurses out there! Haha! Thanks for watching!
Same here! Go glad I found her!!
I'm a student in a surgical tech program and I've met some really awesome circulators at the hospital that I might do my clinicals at. They go under lots of pressure and I admire them because somehow they keep their cool. Great video!
This specialty of nursing is definitely on my top list.
Hi, I m going for an interview tomorrow. Really feels good and and energetic to face the interview. Well done video
I'm started in OR this week..This was awesome, your personality is so engaging!
I loved all your scrub caps!😍
I absolutely love your energy! Very informative video! I am waiting to hear if I get the Graduate Nurse Residency in the OR in the next couple of days! I am nervous and excited and pray that God shows favor that I can experience this opportunity so early in my nursing career! Subscribed✔️
OMG you have given me some light. I m going to apply for jobs but i feel like i have to do telemetry, med-surg, oncology etc as a new nurse. This got my heart pumping happy instead of stressed. Hopefully they ll hire new nurses in my area. This is what got me the most exited when i was in my clinical rotation, the OR.
I love this video. Thank you.
Your video is very informative. This is one of those great ones I've watched so far.
This is my ULTIMATE GOAL once I pass the NCLEX! Get a job as an OR Nurse!! I miss it so much!
Thanks for this informative video in detail appreciate it for a senior nursing student who believes the OR is meant for her!
This video was nice and detailed. LOVED IT! Thank you
I just found out that I get to do my capstone in the OR and take my periop 101 course next semester and I can’t wait!!
This was really informative! Thank you!
I am going to share your video with my Intern Nurses tomorrow in a class room,, Love it !!!
Wow! That is so great! I'm glad I can be a part of educating future nurses :) Thanks for sharing!
Love your personality!!
I love the changing of the hat.🤣 Great explaination of circulator!
This video was so informative! I would love to see more videos like this and how to succeed in the OR and different resources!
Thank you! Excellent video
I love being an OR Nurse. It is exciting.
Love, love ,love this video!!!
I am not a registered nurse yet, but I do like OR. I am very interested in critical care and emergency nursing/medicine. Like literally. 🤗🙏🏻
Love your personality tooo ahhhhh ahhh💓💓💓💯
Thank you so much for the information.
I love your hats!
Omg you are hilarious! Subscribed
Im here bc Im graduating this month and I want to work in the OR
Lauren you rock!!
Frist time watching your video and l really LOVE your video :) see you often
I love this video!
Can you show one of the preference cards? So that We can have a rough idea about what’s generally on there. Thank you 🙏
Can you post a link of where you bought all your scrub caps in your video please? I love them
I loved this video. Thank you for being so informative and thorough. I am about to accept an OR job at a level 1 trauma center but I'm still nervous about the commitment and this being my first RN job out of school. My OR pull out day was such a great experience and I really enjoyed the teamwork and communication I observed. My biggest fear is that it won't be fast-paced enough and I don't mean ED fast because that is a nightmare job for me. I just want to be up and moving around because that is one of my main reasons for deciding to be a nurse. Do you have any advice on what OR specialties to go for?
I have an interview next week!
love it!
I think your job sounds great
Dianna Cooper, I loved it! I scrubbed and assisted too!
I'm still in nursing school and thinking about wanting to precept in the OR next semester. I rotated once to the OR and it was AMAZING!!! I enjoyed every second of it. I didn't even want to go to lunch and meet up with my classmates during it. However, my previous clinicals haven't given me many opportunities to do much outside of besides bed baths and linen changes so i'm trying to get a lot of experience before i graduate. People have told me to go to the ICU, PCU, ER, or a med-surge floor to get a lot of experience. Would I be able to practice some fundamental stuff like inserting an IV, cath, etc. in the OR? Any advice would be appreciated
Hi there! Thanks for the comment and the question! I remember being right where you are in the nursing program and my first day observing in the OR- I knew it was the place for me. But it took me a while to get there. I started on a med-surg unit after graduation and worked the midnight shift for 3 years before applying to the OR. Although med-surg was difficult and those were among the most challenging years of my life, I am thankful for the many on-the-job lessons I learned and it was beneficial to learn them before getting to the OR. I have had co-workers who started in the OR right out of school and they honestly have found it overwhelming to not only learn all the OR basics, but the basics of nursing as well. All that being said, my advice is to start in an ICU, ED, or med-surg before going to the OR. But only you know how you best learn. Wishing you success in your nursing career!
Thank you for this video, watching this in 2019 lol. I'm graduated nursing last year, and I am considering going into OR nursing. What would be some resources/programs/certificates that you or any other OR nurses would recommend to better prepare for this nursing position?
awesome vid!!
Can you do a video on the differences of surgical tech & surgical nurse ?
Any thoughts about an ER nurse transitioning to a circulator role?
I have never worked as an ER nurse before so I don't have first hand knowledge of your role-- I do know that I couldn't do it-- It is very high pressure from what I can tell! And that seems to be one of the barriers to transitioning to the circulator role. Many of my co-workers who have transitioned from the more intensive units (ER/ICU) find the OR to be much "slower" or even "boring". Not to say that the OR is easy-- it just can be a different pace than the more intense nursing roles. A lot more of "hurry up and wait" if that makes any sense. But these co-workers usually don't last long and they seek more challenging work somewhere else. However, my advice to an ER nurse wanting to check out the OR would be to transition to a level one trauma hospital. It is fast paced and challenging. Even when I was looking for jobs after Mercy Ships, I started looking at surgical centers vs. hospitals and the pace was really slow for me. I was told that these ORs were usually for the more seasoned OR nurse that wanted to ramp down before retirement and I still wanted some challenge at my young age ;). But it really comes down to preference. Thanks for the question and for watching!
✌✌👏👏👏❤❤🇮🇹
Complimenti
Thanks for sharing the information about perioperative nursing. I am finishing up the first year of my nursing school (2 more years to go). I'm really interested in becoming an OR nurse. Do I have a chance at a new grad to be hired on as an OR nurse or do I need a couple of years as a Med Surge nurse before applying for the OR nurse? Thank you again for the videos. Good luck on your nursing journey.
Do or nurses help any with meds or is that only Anasthesia?
show how the safety strap work on the operating table
I like how your caps keep changing. I only got to shadow OR with my pt in clinical. Have you worked other specialties?
Thank you so much for this great video! I'm considering applying to the OR and this was very informative. I'm trying to find my niche as a nurse and hoping this will be it.
BTW I love your nose ring. Are you allowed to wear it at work in the OR? I really want to get one but haven't due to dress code at work. Thanks!!!! Peace and blessings.
JocelynMarieTV, honestly ? This may just be me, but I wouldn't wear one on an interview. Maybe if it's a small stud. I don't see where it would be a problem in the OR since you will usually be wearing a mask. We could only wear small studs in our ears. Good luck!
I have an interview for an OR new grad position next week! Can you please do a video on interview tips? Thanks!
Here are a few questions that they will probably ask. I was interviewed by 6 managers all at once! It was a round table interview! Each manager represents a certain OR specialty (ortho, cardiac, urology/gynecology, general, plastic, and neuro)
Here are the questions/answers. These were the questions asked and the answers were what I made up on the spot. I had to write these questions down because my friend applied to the same OR and interviewed a week after I did. We both got the job and now working together!
Question: Tell us of a time when you had a conflict with another co-worker, how did you resolve it? (Conflict resolution is KEY! There are often conflicts between the surgeon and the nurses)
Answer: When I came into work one day, a co-worker of mine was very angry when interacting with me. Instead of reacting to her inappropriate behavior, I asked if she had a bad day and if there is anything that I can help her to make it better. We all have bad days, so I tried to be a little bit more empathetic.
Question: Give us an example of a time when someone asked you to perform a task that was outside of your scope of practice. How did you handle it?
Answer: I remember when I was a CNA, a nurse asked me to increase the oxygen level on a nasal cannula. I knew that oxygen is considered a medication because there are risks associated with over oxygenation and this requires clinical judgments. I reminded the nurse that I am not allowed to this but if she needed help, I could ask another nurse to help her.
Those were the hardest two questions that I remember. Good luck, you got this!
This is off topic. Your fashionable caps make your beautiful eyes stand out.
Awesome. Sauce
I'm starting my senior internship in the OR in about a week, any tips on what to expect initially?
Hi Jesse! Without knowing the kind of OR you will be working in/your responsibilities as an intern, here are some general things to keep in mind... my biggest advice would be to ASK QUESTIONS. You are there to ultimately learn about the specialty so don't be afraid to ask questions about what you are seeing, especially the roles and responsibilities of the nurses. Determine when it is best to jump in and help or stay out of the way. Personally, I learn best by doing and there are going to be times when an extra set of hands will be wonderful in the OR-- plus it shows that you have initiative, which is great on a resume. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself, will I be contributing to the situation positively or negatively. Example: a trauma comes in and we are going through sponges very quickly. If I help count the sponges on and off the field, will I be helping or hurting the situation? Do I know what I'm doing? Follow directions! Nothing will make a circulator nurse more nervous than when you don't respect the sterile field. Pay attention and be aware of your surroundings. Stand where they tell you to stand, help them how they instruct you to help. Finally, don't lock your knees and eat a good meal before work. If you start to feel faint (which has happened to a lot of people-- don't be embarrassed)-- let someone know right away! I hope that this is helpful and if you have any further questions, I'm more than willing to answer them in this thread. Bottom line though: this is super exciting! Hopefully from this internship you will receive a clear indication whether OR nursing is right for you! :)
super cool! thanks for responding! so many questions right now, still waiting to be assigned a preceptor, but I'll write back again if I feel the need for more guidance.
Making me consider OR
How can I able to work as a circulator nurse in OR after finished ny bachelor of nursing? Should I continue my study in particular of circulation nurse?
Any tips for a new grad trying to go into the OR?
Been a med-surg tele nurse for 8 years. I'm looking for a change of pace. How long is the training and orientation? I don't have any previous OR or surgical department. I only had 1 clinical day as a student, but that was a long time ago and I just observed. So I'm watching CZcams videos to familiarize myself
I had a similar experience as you-- I had the one clinical day in the OR and I was hooked from that moment. Unfortunately, I was told that operating room nursing wouldn't be taught in nursing school. I worked 3 years med-surg and needed a change. It's a catch 22 though-- most ORs won't hire nurses without experience, but how do the new OR nurses gain that experience? Anyway, I found a hospital that was willing to hire, not only inexperienced nurses, but also nurses straight out of school. My orientation was about 6 months-- a mixture of classroom work through AORN, shadowing, and on the job training. Thanks for watching :)
Same here. They just don't want to train new people. I lucked up though and they transferred me. They started me out scrubbing to learn the cases, instruments and sterile technique. I loved it for 16 years. Unfortunately, my back just couldn't take it anymore. Ironic since spine was my specialty!
Hi! I love your video. May I ask which hospital do you work? I am also a Theatre nurse by profession. I am a newbie, do you have any advice on how to handle difficult surgeons?
kamiya008 I actually don't currently work at a hospital. I'm going to be traveling with an organization called Mercy Ships for the next 3 months. As for the difficult surgeons, that has been a real concern for me. Surgeons like that can make or break your day as you probably know. Not only are they a pain to work with, but they can put your patients in danger. If you feel like speaking up for your patient could cause negative repercussions for you, mistakes can go on by. What has helped me is remembering that-- if I don't speak up, mistakes happen and I'm ultimately there to protect my patients. And if it isn't a matter of safety, I just KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS. I've had surgeons just baffled by the way that I act when they snap at me. There are also those surgeons that just have odd personalities. One in particular wanted you to bark back at him because he enjoyed the heated banter. And that is totally not me, but with practice, I learned to deal with him. I hope this helped and thank you for the idea for a future video!!!
I appreciate that you gave time in replying to my question. Thank you!
I guess even if I had a few years of experience in my previous work as a theatre nurse, it would always be different for every country and for every hospital. I hate it when I'm the newbie, I am placed at a position where I have to please everyone. The most difficult part for me now is, adjusting to almost everything (I was trained using the American standards, European protocols are very different!) But I hope I'll get through it soon..
Thank you again!
Hi +kamiya008 ! I am a newbie OR/Theatre Nurse as well and I must say it's really hard. How are you coping up so far? I have trouble memorizing all the instruments. I have always been in love with theatre nursing but right now it really intimidates me :( Hope I will get through this initial stage. :(
Hello laaaRen87. Thank you for your video. Soon I'll be having a interview to become an OR nurse. Currently I work in Med/Surg tele unit. I am excited but at the same time I am a bit scared. Could you please tell me how was it for you at the beginning and how long it took for you to be comfortable in the OR.
I'm sorry that I missed this question! I really hope that your interview went well. I'm planning on doing a video in the near future regarding interviewing with confidence. Anything you learned from the experience that you'd be willing to share? As to my first month in the OR, it was pretty overwhelming at first. There was a lot to learn and I had to be quick on my feet and take initiative in the room. I'm a kinesthetic learner so the OR is well suited for me in that you have to know how to put things together/fix things/make things work. Within a few months, I was able to work independently in the OR. But I'm not going to lie, there are still times when I feel uncomfortable in the OR. Because of the advancements in medicine, every specialty has new procedures, new equipment, and new supplies continuously. There has been many a time where I've been thrown into those situations and I need to figure it out as quickly as possible-- for the team, for the surgeon, but ultimately for the patient. In those moments, I take a deep breath, prioritize/analyze the situation, and dive in. Keep in mind though, operating room nurses are part of a team. When I can't figure something out or don't know where to start, I turn to my colleagues to point me in the right direction. Thanks for the question!
What's your thoughts on a nursing career? I've been thinking about going into it (not sure what specialty I'd like yet) but I always read all these negative things online about nursing and its discouraging. What are your thoughts on it? Any regrets?
Amanda H czcams.com/video/irzgE83nLwg/video.html
It's challenging, always something different. Always something to learn. . I love it.
I am a certified wound care nurse for many years. I could use a change and the local hospital is hiring for a peri operative internship. I was thinking about applying. Do you think the general surgeons,would appreciate my experience and let me help with putting on any wound vacs in OR . Do circulators help apply dressings. I would love to be in there to see the surgeries etc
susan snyder unfortunately surgeons dont really like suggestions. Depends on relationship also, but as a circulator u dont do dressings, either a scrubbed in PA, NP or SA (surgical assistant) would do that.
We put dressings on, it depended on the doc. RNs scrubbed and assisted where I worked. Some surgeons would take suggestions, too.
😙
i am new to the OR. the biggest challenge i am facing right now is that i cannot hear the doctor very well because of the mask. it kinda sounds mumbly to me and with that it kinda annoys them if i keep on asking them to repeat. i went to the hearing specialist to have my hearing checked, but the result is all normal. but i am so frustrated not understanding what the doctor wants. i am still in my orientation in the OR. what do you think or can you advise to me in my situation?
+d3r3kyasmar Thanks for the question! It is definitely a challenge hearing and more importantly understanding the surgical team. The mask can not only muffle what is being communicated, but if you are working with people with different accents or nationalities it can be doubly challenging. And when you're new to the OR, there is so much new equipment and terms to learn that it is easy to mistake one request for another. My advice is... give yourself time. You WILL develop what we call, "OR ears". I didn't believe it when I started, but when I started training people for the OR, they were looking at me like I was reading minds or something. You start to notice mumbled conversation and feel the rhythm of the room. But you have to be patient with yourself-- you can't be expected to learn everything in a week. And there's still miscommunications. I still will mishear something and deliver the wrong instrument. What I've found the grumpiest, finicky surgeon wants is to know people are paying attention and trying their hardest. If you are eager to learn and attentive to the team's needs, you will stand out from the crowd. I hope that this helps!
You forgot how crazy some doctors are and who they cuss out some nurse how they throw tools across the room. lol but true
Eldrick Young, Hey! That slipped outta their hand!!
Yeah, they get in trouble for that shit.
Can you tell me if I can possibly get a job as a Circulator Nurse if I'm a new grad. I ask because I applied to this exact job with a hospital who should see in my application/resume that I graduated last year (still no job) and now my application is in Manager review (sounds good so far). I think I can be trained and surgery is the one thing I always wanted to do.
wiwut Yes, it is possible to get a job in the OR as a new grad. The hospital I currently work at accepts new grads, but this is because of two things, 1) it's a teaching hospital 2) the turnover rate is really high. Although I have coworkers that are new grads and are very proficient in their job, I would suggest gaining experience as a floor nurse before pursuing a job in the OR. I can't tell you how many times I've been in a situation in the OR where I'm able to critically think better and faster because of my floor nurse experience. However, it really comes down to knowing yourself- if you feel ready for the OR, by all means- apply! We need fantastic nurses in this specialty. Thanks for watching!
The Musical Nurse, I definitely agree every new nurse should work at least one year on a med-surg floor! Where I worked , we did a few straight local cases. The RN (ACLS cert) monitors the patient instead of a CRNA. You need to know meds and disease processes because the RN will also be giving IV meds. I have had a patient go bad on me during a simple procedure and you better know what to do.
Wow.
👍 ducktails
Hello! Can you tell what salary can earn a circulator nurse? Thanks!
great vid...what service do work you in?
I am 41 years old Korean RN without training in a hospital yet. This video is really interesting to me let me have desire to work in an OR field. Thank you so much for making this video. btw I have a question. Can a over 40 years male nurse start this career to last up over 60 as a permanent career? I am now on a entry gate to a hoapital setting work field having lots of afraid about my career. @@
What do the scrub nurses do then ?
They are the ones handling the back table with all the instruments. They assist the surgeon by handing them sterile instruments/meds.
S L thank you
S L then what do surgical techs do??
Eb77 Either a nurse or scrub tech can do a scrub role. However only a nurse can do a circulator role.
S L thank you it is realy hard to find good info!!
Ok finally I'm not the only one who thinks the tb mask looks like a duck beak
Tim intrest
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