7/27/2011

SOME OF THE NURSES I WORK WITH IN O.R

I REALLY DO LOVE MY NEW JOB. I STARTED JULY 5TH AND HAD 6 WEEKS OF ORIENTATION. I WORK IN 3 DIFFERENT AREAS OF O.R. "SURGICAL ADMISSIONS" WERE I GET PT'S READY FOR SURGERY. WHICH INCLUDES MAKING SURE THEIR LAB WORK IS DONE, PUT IN AN I.V, GO OVER MEDICAL HISTORY AND WHAT MEDS THEY TAKE BEFORE THEY GO INTO SURGERY. IN THIS AREA I WORK CLOSELY WITH THE ANESTHESIOLOGISTS. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO CALL PT'S IN EARLIER BECAUSE THE DOCTOR HAD A CANCELLATION OR WHATEVER, THEY DEPEND OF ME TO KEEP THEIR SCHEDULE FLOWING SO THEY ARE NOT HAVING A LONG WAIT IN BETWEEN SURGERIES. THE OTHER AREA I WORK IS CALLED "PACU" THIS IS WHERE PT'S GO TO RECOVER RIGHT AFTER THEY COME OUT OF SURGERY. THEY ARE USUALLY DEEPLY SEDATED WITH AN ORAL AIRWAY IN, I RECOVER THEM AND TAKE OUT THE AIRWAY, GIVE THEM PAIN MEDS AND MAKE SURE THEIR VITAL SIGNS ARE STABLE (USUALLLY AN HOUR) THEN I GIVE REPORT TO PHASE 2 RECOVERY IF THEY ARE GOING HOME OR I GIVE REPORT TO A UNIT THEY WILL BE ADMITTED TO IN THE HOSPITAL. THE LAST AREA I WORK IS "PHASE 2" WE GET THEM UP IN A CHAIR, PT'S ARE AWAKE AND HAVING SOME PAIN. WE GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT AND MONIOTOR THEIR VITAL SIGNS, AND WHEN THEY ARE READY I DO DISCHARGE TEACHING REGARDING WHAT PROCEDURE THEY HAD DONE, THEN A TECH TAKES THEM TO THEIR CAR IN A WHEELCHAIR. I WORK 4 DAYS A WEEK AND TRY TO WORK IN EACH AREA SO I DO NOT FORGET THE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED. IT IS NICE HAVING MY OWN UNIT TO CALL HOME, EVERYONE IS PRETTY CLOSE AND THEY DO ALOT OF THINGS TOGETHER OUTSIDE OF WORK. THE DOCTORS ARE GREAT TO WORK WITH AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT THEY RESPECT NURSES IN THESE AREAS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO THINK LIKE A DOCTOR IN SOME CASES. THEY DEPEND ON YOU TO MAKE GOOD DECISIONS. I HAVE BEEN GETTING TO KNOW THE DOCTORS BETTER AND CAN NOW PUT THE NAME WITH THE FACE WITH MOST OF THEM. I AM SO GLAD I DO NOT HAVE TO WORK GRAVEYARD SHIFTS ANYMORE. MY HOURS ARE USUALLY 1 OR 2 TWELVE HOUR SHIFTS WITH A COUPLE OF 8 HOUR SHIFTS. SO I AM WORKING 40 HRS A WEEK. ALL THE NURSES HELP EACH OTHER OUT IN EACH AREA. ONE DAY I HAD A VERY BUSY DAY IN SURGICAL ADMISSIONS-THEY HAD SCHEDULED 2 PT'S AT A TIME WITH ME WITH 2 DIFFERENT DOCTORS, ANOTHER NURSE DID NOT HAVE MUCH GOING ON SO SHE HELPED ME WITH WHATEVER I NEEDED. I ALSO WILL HELP OTHER NURSES IF THEY ARE GETTING THEIR PAPERWORK TOGETHER ON A PT, THEN I WILL GO START AN I.V FOR THEM. I HAVE FOUND IF I AM CAUGHT UP OR NOT BUSY TO ALWAYS HELP SOMEONE ELSE OUT BECAUSE SOMEDAY I WILL NEED THE SAME HELP. I LOVE THE MANAGER AND EDUCATOR IN THIS UNIT. THEY ARE EASY TO TALK TO AND VERY APPROACHABLE ON ANYTHING.