I'm so tierd of SCRUB nurses

[Blade28]

I always thought the scrub nurses were higher ranking than the circulators! Doh!

Remember that often the scrubs aren't nurses, per se, but TECHS. They went to surg tech school.

BTW, ER/ICU nurses can make a nice pretty penny as well, especially if they've been working in any given hospital for at least 5-10 years.

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[JB01]

Hello, I found this site while I was surfing for Nurses tired of Doctors' egos and such.
I am a Surgical Tech, and have been for 10 years. I'm getting ready to get my RN, not because of some "burning desire" to do so, but as a natural progression to what I'm doing, and to get as far away from surgeons as possible, and to expand my horizons in hopes of working with more autonomy. Maybe become an NP or work out of my home.??
First of all, I'm sorry you've had such horrible experiences as students or as residents. I love you all!! Actually, I'm thinking this has all come from hospitals. I have worked in a surgery center for the last 5 years. You have always been "buffers" for me, from egotistical, arrogant surgeons. I die a slow death inside when I find out that our surgeons will not have a resident with them, because I know i"m going to be the one to take abuse.
Our role is the "trickle down effect". I've been blamed for everything from the way the instrument sets are put together, to patients showing up late..??huh?? And I've been told by comparison, I"m one of the better tech's they've run into in their careers..I mean, can you imagine?
I swear part of the problem..( and who knew this could be a problem?) I am in my later 40's and I look so young, I don't get any respect. I have children that could've gone to school with you , and I FEEL for you so much. I look at you as my own children. I don't care if you grab off my Mayo.I could care less, I think the whole thing is blown way out of proportion, I really do! I've contaminated before and didn't say anything, because the ramifications of having to start over in a surgery center is more than the risk of infection...where time is money and wasted supplies are money. ( Lord, don't make Dr. Suckwad any later than he already is)
And, really, all these patients get antibiotics anyway.
There isn't a day that goes by that I think I might rather stock shelves at Walmart than to have to deal with Dr. Ass-Hole! Just PLEASE stay nice.. and don't allow yourselves to become polluted by that medical field attitude!!

 

[SpinalSnap]

Fist off the Scrub Techs job is to do as you say even as a medical student. The reason that they do not respect you is because you dont demand respect. When I go into the OR I am respectful but I also make it known to them that I will not put up w/ their -ish- so they shouldnt even try. Then they start kissing up to even me. (although it could be because I am extremely good looking)And to the person who got pushed out of the way by the tech...next time just punch her in the face.

 

[THP]

Remember that often the scrubs aren't nurses, per se, but TECHS. They went to surg tech school.

BTW, ER/ICU nurses can make a nice pretty penny as well, especially if they've been working in any given hospital for at least 5-10 years.

Now that I think about it, thats true at my current hospital. Where I went to medical school the nurses would often rotate circulating and scrubbing.

LR vs NS - I'm an OB/GYN intern so you know where I lie on the debate. I will say I am rotating on internal medicine now and my attending actually prefers LR over NS.

 

[nebrfan]

CRNA's, on the other hand, ugh ugh... during one of my cases, I overheard a couple of them whispering about how they had pushed 20mg lasix because of low urine output. While I might not know too much about medicine yet, I got really suspicious and said loudly "lasix??" just so both my attending and CRNA's could hear me simultaneously, and my attending got so pissed and was like "does this patient look wet? what is his cvp? what the hell made you give lasix to this guy? maybe his pre-existing RENAL FAILURE explains his oliguria" and scrubbed out to grab the anesthesiology attending. the CRNA's then gave me the evil eye, proceeded to talk about how i had the 'nerve' as a student to question their 'judgment'. i was then like, 'why don't you guys stop talking about me and start giving this patient some albumin?'.

gah, god damn. and then there was the time where they missed the developing arrhythmias, till i told my attending...

wtf are the anesthesiologists doing when they leave the room after intubation?? why is it that they only return when we're about to extubate??

In a couple of more years you will be referring to your CRNA colleagues as "Dr" ( http://www.sahp.vcu.edu/nrsa/programs/doctorate.htm ) - by 2015 all masters level nursing degrees are slated to become "doctorate" level degrees ( http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/DNPFAQ.htm )

My state is currently working on legislation that limits the use of the title "Doctor" in clinical settings to MD, DO, DDS, and DPM - I encourage you to write your respective medical associations to do the same. Although, maybe patients will feel more secure with a DST (Doctor of Scrub Technology), DrPhleb (Doctor of Phlebotomy), ResPhD (Doctorate of Respiratory Therapy), and DJS (Doctor of Janitorial Science) taking care of them...

 

[e p i c]

In a couple of more years you will be referring to your CRNA colleagues as "Dr" ( http://www.sahp.vcu.edu/nrsa/programs/doctorate.htm ) - by 2015 all masters level nursing degrees are slated to become "doctorate" level degrees ( http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/DNPFAQ.htm )

My state is currently working on legislation that limits the use of the title "Doctor" in clinical settings to MD, DO, DDS, and DPM - I encourage you to write your respective medical associations to do the same. Although, maybe patients will feel more secure with a DST (Doctor of Scrub Technology), DrPhleb (Doctor of Phlebotomy), ResPhD (Doctorate of Respiratory Therapy), and DJS (Doctor of Janitorial Science) taking care of them...

Thanks for the indigestion.

 

[PlAnEjaNe]

I took this from the website you posted...

Will doctorally-prepared nurses confuse patients and the public?


No. The title of Doctor is common to many disciplines and is not the domain of any one group of health professionals. Many APNs currently hold doctoral degrees and are addressed as "doctors," which is similar to how other expert practitioners in clinical areas are addressed, including clinical psychologists, dentists, and podiatrists. In all likelihood, APNs will retain their specialist titles after completing a doctoral program. For example, Nurse Practitioners will continue to be called Nurse Practitioners. Of course, DNPs would be expected to clearly display their credentials to insure that patients understand their preparation as a nursing provider, just as many APNs, physicians, and other clinicians are required and currently do.

Ummm...how the heck are patients going to know the difference in preparation as a nursing provider? Most patients think the radiology tech is a physician.....this will only add to the confusion..

DNP: Hello, I am dr. so-and-so
Patient: But I thought the other person that just saw me was the doctor??
DNP: They are, I am a doctor of nursing/or some other equally confusing response
Patient: Umm...so then why are you here again?

 

[GoBuckeyes913]

BTW, ER/ICU nurses can make a nice pretty penny as well, especially if they've been working in any given hospital for at least 5-10 years.

ER nurses at my hometown hospital make $30/h..... overtime is $50/h. Residency is what, like $10/h? Sheesh.

 

[Nurse2009]

Not to start war or anything like that but before jumping on the srub nurses and whine how uncultured they are please be so kind and observe your own attendings,residents,or whomever is precepting you to make a very sad conclusion of them not following isolation precautions with the certain risk patients.I'm sorry but it makes me cringe inside very bad when I see a doc going into isolation room like he is entering the ballroom,take of his/her stetoscope and assess pt then goes to another room and contaminates another pt. For God sake isnt a doctors suppose to be an example since they like to perceive themselves as the ones running the show.I'm just a humble nursing student but I see those "mistakes" and I'm really suprised and shocked

 

[pediatricsurg]

I am a med student but I also work as a surg tech. I have noticed that most med students come in with the attitude that they are better than any non-doctor staff in the room. Maybe its your attitude or lack of knowledge of your place in the OR. Most med students treat me like an idiot, like I don't know what I'm doing. It's not until they find out that I am also a med student, not to mention I already have a PhD, that they start to treat me nicely. Be nice to the support staff. We are there to support you. And the comment about destroying them after your residency. See how far you get through your day without the help of the nurses and techs.

 

[JeffLebowski]

I am a med student but I also work as a surg tech. I have noticed that most med students come in with the attitude that they are better than any non-doctor staff in the room. Maybe its your attitude or lack of knowledge of your place in the OR. Most med students treat me like an idiot, like I don't know what I'm doing. It's not until they find out that I am also a med student, not to mention I already have a PhD, that they start to treat me nicely. Be nice to the support staff. We are there to support you. And the comment about destroying them after your residency. See how far you get through your day without the help of the nurses and techs.

Do you introduce yourself as "doctor"? You totally should.

 

[J1515]

I can count on one hand the number of times I actually talked to a scrub tech during a procedure as a student,

Of course. Why should us doctors ever acknowledge the existence of the mere mortal nurses and scrub techs

 

[smq123]

I can count on one hand the number of times I actually talked to a scrub tech during a procedure as a student

Of course. Why should us doctors ever acknowledge the existence of the mere mortal nurses and scrub techs

Since when did "student" = "doctor"?

I don't usually strike up conversation with the scrub tech, either. If I did, I would run the risk of either the resident or the attending turning to me and irritably asking me to shut up.

 

[silas2642]

Of course. Why should us doctors ever acknowledge the existence of the mere mortal nurses and scrub techs

Uhhhh... Did you read the rest of Tired's post-- he was just saying that as a student he was way too preoccupied with not screwing up to drum up a conversation with a scrub tech that he had never met before. But you know us allopaths-- we're all just *******s.

 

[J1515]

Uhhhh... Did you read the rest of Tired's post-- he was just saying that as a student he was way too preoccupied with not screwing up to drum up a conversation with a scrub tech that he had never met before. But you know us allopaths-- we're all just *******s.

Read his post right above it saying "here we go again" when somebody pointed out that nurses and scrub techs are a crucial part of the day. And where do you get this "that he had never met before" nonsense? And what does being an 'allopath' have to do with anything?

 

[SoCuteMD]

I can count on one hand the number of times I actually talked to a scrub tech during a procedure as a student, and that was usually just to say "Sorry" after I touched their tray. Med students are usually far too caught up not screwing up, following the procedure, and answering pimp questions to start asking the about the personal life of whatever random scrub tech isn't on lunch during the case.

I can only imagine how painful it is to have an over-educated tech start launching into their life story as you're trying to figure out how to hold the retractor without your arm falling asleep.

Also, I kind of thought it wasn't my role to strike up a conversation in the OR during a case. I spoke when spoken to, or when there was an active conversation in the room. Some attendings like quiet when they operate, some like to be able to hear the music, and some enjoy conversation. I just figured I'd follow my resident's lead on that one.

I did try to at least introduce myself, get my gloves and my seniors gloves before the case, though. I only ever had one (mildly) unpleasant interaction with a scrub tech/nurse - but I did do my surgery rotation in community hospital private practice la-la land.

 

[MSmentor018]

You're going to find nice ones and mean ones wherever you go. It's all person dependent. Some people just like to power trip on the only thing that they have control of.

yep...nicely said

 

[J1515]

I didn't talk to scrub techs as a student. I didn't talk to them as an intern. I won't talk to them much as a resident. Why should I? I have enough on my mind, and I don't need to make friends at work.

No point in even responding to someone with such an elitist attitude. Good luck with your residency.

 

[fab4fan]

And here all this time I thought going to work was about doing my job. I had no idea I was supposed to be doing all this socializing, too. Thanks for clearing that up.

 

[silas2642]

And here all this time I thought going to work was about doing my job. I had no idea I was supposed to be doing all this socializing, too. Thanks for clearing that up.

Will you be my friend? You could come over to my house after work, and we could braid each other's hair, play Barbie, bake some cookies...

 

[fab4fan]

Will you be my friend? You could come over to my house after work, and we could braid each other's hair, play Barbie, bake some cookies...

Well, I might be a little old for you, but I hear Paris is looking for a new BFF.

 

[dgruntledmizzou]

Will you be my friend? You could come over to my house after work, and we could braid each other's hair, play Barbie, bake some cookies...

"Then, would you stay... and watch the game with me? Maybe have a slice of pizza? I can braid your hair. No, I know the couch isn't very deep, but we can move the back cushion... and spoon. Will you tell me the answer to this question: Do you want to be the big spoon, or the little spoon?"


[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H_sNLM-CbU[/YOUTUBE]

 

[J1515]

And here all this time I thought going to work was about doing my job. I had no idea I was supposed to be doing all this socializing, too. Thanks for clearing that up.

It has nothing to do with making friends or socializing. It's called being a normal human being. Not "you're just a scrub tech so you don't deserve my acknowledgement."

Just for the record, at the non-malignant programs I've been at the interns, residents, attendings, scrub nurses and circulating nurses all BS'ed with each other (obviously not at critical times during a procedure). In fact, one of the surgery chiefs was actually FRIENDS with a scrub nurse, and they were often seen together eating lunch in the cafeteria Another time...at band camp... as a pediatric surgeon was closing he was talking to a male scrub nurse about places to go skiing in Vermont. Evidently this whole "I'm better than a <insert non-physician field here>.." isn't universal.

 

[Trail Boss]

I just do what they say. They have simple rules. Don't break them and they will not bother you. They have a little universe to control, they are good at it, and they don't like people f'ing with it. Sounds fair to me, wouldn't ask any less if I was a scrub tech. Everyone has a place, and should know it. Medical students job is to shut the hell up, not break the sterile field, and to not take instruments without asking. They don't want to know you, they don't want to know about you. Just keep quiet, do what your told, and stay the hell out of the way. At the end of the day, go bowling.

 

[Anka]

I just do what they say. They have simple rules. Don't break them and they will not bother you. They have a little universe to control, they are good at it, and they don't like people f'ing with it. Sounds fair to me, wouldn't ask any less if I was a scrub tech. Everyone has a place, and should know it. Medical students job is to shut the hell up, not break the sterile field, and to not take instruments without asking. They don't want to know you, they don't want to know about you. Just keep quiet, do what your told, and stay the hell out of the way. At the end of the day, go bowling.

Actually, that's where the problem is... some of them don't have "simple rules", the rules sometimes get very complex so they can beat you down. Some of them aren't good at their jobs; some of them are dangerous, occasionally one gets fired. Often, it is not the medical student but the tech who does not know their place -- who hasn't seen a perfectly polite and professional medical student, albeit out of their element, beaten down by a catty scrub tech for no apparent reason, other than they could get away with it? Not that all techs are like this. I've been at some hospitals where abuse of medical students is the rule, and at others where the scrub techs take great pride, as a group, in going out of their way to make the students comfortable. So lets not pretend that they're always right. They do, however, have significantly more power, by virtue of their comfort within the sterile field, than most medical students.

Anka

 

[baysider]

There's a difference between addressing an issue professionally and screaming unnecessarily a a medical student who may not know better. Remember the Med student is their to LEARN from the surgeon. Nurses are their to AID the surgeon whether they be an attending or resident. Yes their is a team but their is a pecking order.

The main goal of a circulating nurse is patient advocacy and ensuring that hospital's policy is followed. It is also to ensure the patient on the OR table is safe. Everyone in the hospital has a role. If housekeeping didn't do their job effectively and efficiently, the patient would suffer, just as if the scrub tech or the circulating RN didn't do their task, the team would fall. We all need each other all the way down, to the person, who cleans and sterilizes and puts the tray together. So, get off your high horse and learn some respect and common sense. There are jerks in every profession. Everyone in this world has their place and are important in the roles that they perform.

I have a lot of respect for Surgeons, just as I have for the MedSurg and ICU nurse, as I have for good residents. One cannot function without the others. So, to think that the nurse is for the needs of the surgeon is absolutely ******ed! The surgeon works for the patient, and the nurse works for the hospital, who serves as a team to assist the doctor, the scrub, the housekeeper and the aid.


If the surgeon needs particular instruments to complete his tasks to serve our patient on the table and to do a competent job, the hospital will arrange to have these tools ordered and available for a case.

The circulating nurse will do everything she or he can to make sure the surgery is a success. If the doctors, residents, PA, Nurse practitioners, med students, etc.. needs something which benefits a patient's care, then of course it is the role of the nurse to make that happen, if policy allows; However, if the act is potentially dangerous and not adhering to policy than the practitioner is on his or her own. Nurses do not have to follow directives from doctors, if they are against procedure and policy are if they are incorrect or dangerous.

There have been a few occassions when an arrogant surgeon refuses to listen that the count wasn't correct and attempted to close a patient up, but policy states an xray must be done before closure, so... you just don't give the surgeon the tools he needs and the circulator will call the OR manager, who is a nurse and he or she will call the chief attending or hospital administrator, to get that Xray and document the incident and to later find that the clamp was truly in the patient after xray revealed and the ***** looked dumb, because he believed he was infallible. Of course there are times when the circulator is afraid to speak up and/or believe the surgeon that she must have made a mistake. There have also been cases when surgeons have broke sterility and two day post op, the patient has to come back to the OR because of sepsis. So, yes you don't have to have respect for what the Nurse or the Scrub tech does, but you also don't pay our salaries.

Jerks comes in all professions: nurses, doctors, aides, etc. Yes, no one should ever yell in the OR, but that isn't reality. Nurses can only be protected from lawsuits if we follow policy. Nurses have licenses, just as other registered professionals. You can degrade nurses all you want, but your job cannot function without them and we can't function without doctors. Doctors can at times choose to divert from policies. This is fine. Nurse don't have this option. If you want to have your own way and form your own policies and have nurses do as you say than open your own practice, a hospital isn't the place for this.

 

[baysider]

You're a very insecure person. Good luck with that.

And you can make that assumption for a sentence. Wow, you are so smart!

 

[baysider]

Ah, the coup d'etat of the nursing field. Anyone outranks them and asks them to do something, they start complaining about losing their licenses. Just how often do nurses lose their licenses anyway? I've seen it happen twice, both times for, oh, stealing narcotics. Never for following MD orders such as "push lasix" or "morphine 10mg", although I have been refused these orders under this heavy "license" problem that all nurses go through.
Are you all taught that on the first day of nursing school or what? Because every nurse knows that by heart.

Laughable. So tell me why I get yelled at for not having shoe covers under my sterile gown, or for not changing my scrubs between cases, but your Dora the Explorer scrubs are allowable? Are they antibiotic impregnated or something?


Someone found Google today.
Haven't ever seen P. micros, M. thermo, or Campylobacter from surgical wounds. I have seen MRSA, S. epidermidis, and E. coli, but these aren't related to sterile technique, but from wound contamination afterwards, except for one case where the circulator didn't get the pre-op antibiotics and then didn't tell them to stop the case. CRNA didn't mention it either, and the surgeon wasn't one of those that would yell at them. They just blissfully ignored it, thinking it was a minor case, and the breast implant had to be removed and replaced later. Note, nobody lost their license that day.

It's not rocket science here. The circulating RN is there to protect and advocate for the patient, and still the nurse and the surgeon make mistakes in which wrong side surgeries are still occurring and instruments and laps are still being found in patient's after closure. WHY, because workers, just decided not to follow policy correctly. So, you are one of those, who believe there should be no rules and because you have an M.D behind your name, you can do as you want and it won't happen to you. You can break sterility and because of your god-given power, your patient will be just fine. Okay doctor whatever you say! Does that make you feel better.

 

[themudphud]

My favorite is when I accidentally drop my hands a little and get called out. YOU--ARE--OUT--OF--HERE.

 

[Rzarecta]

Fist off the Scrub Techs job is to do as you say even as a medical student. The reason that they do not respect you is because you dont demand respect. When I go into the OR I am respectful but I also make it known to them that I will not put up w/ their -ish- so they shouldnt even try. Then they start kissing up to even me. (although it could be because I am extremely good looking)And to the person who got pushed out of the way by the tech...next time just punch her in the face.

Holy crap I just had a stroke due to the awesomeness of this post!

 

[ShV]

As a med student now in surgery rotation, I think they don't mean to hurt your feeling.
What they want is(I guess):
1) assist a surgery without fault
2)feel needed and respected.
I think what should a student do:
1.Do your things right and don't trouble them, so they won't scold you.
2.Respect them and do some help (if allowed by sterile rules.e.g.: do some cleaning with them between two surgery. Nurses' work load is much heavier than med student, of course.)

P.S the med students who are more welcomed by nurses need to be:
1) male 2)good looking 3) astute and seldom mistake 4)know how to flatter them
1)+2)+3)=they never scold you;
1)+2)+3)+4)=they will even say something nice to you and even help you

 

[USArmyDoc]

The scrub nurses I have worked with have been so helpful. I think they are awesome.

 

[dilated]

I just do what they say. They have simple rules. Don't break them and they will not bother you. They have a little universe to control, they are good at it, and they don't like people f'ing with it. Sounds fair to me, wouldn't ask any less if I was a scrub tech. Everyone has a place, and should know it. Medical students job is to shut the hell up, not break the sterile field, and to not take instruments without asking. They don't want to know you, they don't want to know about you. Just keep quiet, do what your told, and stay the hell out of the way. At the end of the day, go bowling.

This is like the precise opposite of correct. This thread isn't about the majority of scrubs who are at least indifferent if not polite. This is about the occasional one who goes out of their way to be a pain in the ass and not let you do your job, whether by coming up with lame excuses for why you're unsterile, refusing to give you things or whatever. I only had it happen on cases where I was alone with a junior resident; my friend was in a case with this ancient scrub tech who wouldn't stop complaining and refusing to give him instruments and criticizing and eventually the attending told her to GTFO of the OR and get her relief person.

 

[TUNCOM]

There is a heirarchy in the OR that I did not know about when I did my first surgery rotation. It is always good manners to introduce yourself to the nurse and tech, write your name and year on the board, and help out before and after the surgery. If you are not needed by your attending or your resident, you should not excuse yourself from the OR or break scrub until the scrub nurse no longer needs your help.

There are some nurses who will never like you, but if you show them these courtesies, you'd be amazed at how fast some of them turn around.

EXCELLENT advice! I did not know about this until my 3rd week and what a difference it made. They can make or break your OR experience.

 

[Dedikated2liftn]

I didn't read everyone's posts; however, I can relate to the OP. I was in the OR recently and standing probably 5 feet away from the instrument table (not within reaching distance). Anyway, the surgical tech (I think) comes up to me and says, "I don't know who you are, but get away from the tools and go stand in the corner; you're making me nervous." Apparently, I had a secret agenda to go stick a few of the tools down my pants while she wasn't looking and sabatoge the operation. Additionally, nothing brings like flashbacks of the 2nd grade like standing in the corner...dunce cap please! Anyway, just needed to vent...glad I'm not the only one with this type of experience.

 

[Jersey74]

I've had very good experiences with the scrub and circulating nurses. There was one circulating that was quite entertaining with counting. To this nurse, it seemed nothing in the world existed except counting anything and everything. At the end of a lap chole, she came up one short on the Raytex. It looked like her whole world was crumbling around her as she frantically re-counted Raytex a few more times before announcing that it MUST be INSIDE the patient and she was calling for an x-ray. There was a heated debate about how a Raytex could have made its way inside the patient during the procedure and that it probably just slipped under the drape vs. I didn't see it, so it must be in the patient and JCAHO says we need an x-ray. The circulating called x-ray anyway and the attending finished closing, despite the circulating telling him he wasn't allowed to because JCAHO said so.

X-ray arrived just in time to see the drape pulled off with a lone Raytex lying on the patient.

 

[Tired]

I've had very good experiences with the scrub and circulating nurses. There was one circulating that was quite entertaining with counting. To this nurse, it seemed nothing in the world existed except counting anything and everything. At the end of a lap chole, she came up one short on the Raytex. It looked like her whole world was crumbling around her as she frantically re-counted Raytex a few more times before announcing that it MUST be INSIDE the patient and she was calling for an x-ray. There was a heated debate about how a Raytex could have made its way inside the patient during the procedure and that it probably just slipped under the drape vs. I didn't see it, so it must be in the patient and JCAHO says we need an x-ray. The circulating called x-ray anyway and the attending finished closing, despite the circulating telling him he wasn't allowed to because JCAHO said so.

X-ray arrived just in time to see the drape pulled off with a lone Raytex lying on the patient.

In general, it's a good idea to get the xray, even when the surgeon is "100% sure" that the missing needle/lap/etc is not in the patient. Have you been in a case yet where you had wheel the patient back to the OR to retrieve a foreign body from the operative site? I have. Let me tell you how fun it is to let a groggy patient and their family know that they need to go back under anesthesthesia and have the wound re-opened because we were too stupid to pay attention to the number of needles we were passing back.

I'm all about mocking people who do stupid stuff, but when the scrub tech tells you she's short a sponge, you need to listen, because that's pretty much her whole job.

Are you counting sponges? If not, then shut up and get the damn xray. The five minutes you spend doing that will some day save you from the extra hour reopening the incision.

 

[dilated]

In general, it's a good idea to get the xray, even when the surgeon is "100% sure" that the missing needle/lap/etc is not in the patient.

I think the joke was that it was a lap chole. It'd be kind of a challenge to unknowingly get a sponge into the abdomen through sub-inch incisions.

Stop the case! We're a lap short on this pilonidal cyst excision!

 

[Tired]

I think the joke was that it was a lap chole. It'd be kind of a challenge to unknowingly get a sponge into the abdomen through sub-inch incisions.

Stop the case! We're a lap short on this pilonidal cyst excision!

Ah, missed that part. My bad.

 

[diosa428]

I didn't read everyone's posts; however, I can relate to the OP. I was in the OR recently and standing probably 5 feet away from the instrument table (not within reaching distance). Anyway, the surgical tech (I think) comes up to me and says, "I don't know who you are, but get away from the tools and go stand in the corner; you're making me nervous." Apparently, I had a secret agenda to go stick a few of the tools down my pants while she wasn't looking and sabatoge the operation. Additionally, nothing brings like flashbacks of the 2nd grade like standing in the corner...dunce cap please! Anyway, just needed to vent...glad I'm not the only one with this type of experience.

Yeah I had a circulating nurse make me stand in the corner while she got the room ready. It was really embarrassing. She actually physically took me by the shoulders and moved me. I mean, I'm 25, a simple "could you please go stand over there" would have been sufficient.

 

[diosa428]

I have a lot of respect for Surgeons, just as I have for the MedSurg and ICU nurse, as I have for good residents. One cannot function without the others. So, to think that the nurse is for the needs of the surgeon is absolutely ******ed! The surgeon works for the patient, and the nurse works for the hospital, who serves as a team to assist the doctor, the scrub, the housekeeper and the aid.

Sorry, but how old are you?

 

[Dedikated2liftn]

Yeah I had a circulating nurse make me stand in the corner while she got the room ready. It was really embarrassing. She actually physically took me by the shoulders and moved me. I mean, I'm 25, a simple "could you please go stand over there" would have been sufficient.

Haha, sounds like I got off easy.

 

[45408]

Stop the case! We're a lap short on this pilonidal cyst excision!

 

[indo]

If you go into the OR early to set out your gloves you might ask the scrubbed nurse if she needs any non-sterile help before you leave. This usually makes for a better day in the OR. Also, being as sarcastic as possible helps.

 

[baysider]

That seems like a ridiculously high amount of money for a circulator. Sit in a chair with the blanket draped over you, chart some stuff, go get stuff from sterile holding, make sure all the rules are followed. I always thought the scrub nurses were higher ranking than the circulators! Doh!

A circulator is an Registered Nurse. So, you are paying for the license. All licensed professionals are paid high in New York. Rent is $1800 for a one bedroom apartment and the cheapest house where I live is about 900K. So, the salary is normal because of cost of living in NY is high.

 

[baysider]

I've had very good experiences with the scrub and circulating nurses. There was one circulating that was quite entertaining with counting. To this nurse, it seemed nothing in the world existed except counting anything and everything. At the end of a lap chole, she came up one short on the Raytex. It looked like her whole world was crumbling around her as she frantically re-counted Raytex a few more times before announcing that it MUST be INSIDE the patient and she was calling for an x-ray. There was a heated debate about how a Raytex could have made its way inside the patient during the procedure and that it probably just slipped under the drape vs. I didn't see it, so it must be in the patient and JCAHO says we need an x-ray. The circulating called x-ray anyway and the attending finished closing, despite the circulating telling him he wasn't allowed to because JCAHO said so.

X-ray arrived just in time to see the drape pulled off with a lone Raytex lying on the patient.

She is just doing her job. If it was me on that table or my family, I would want a good circulator following protocol and taking her job seriously. THis is what is wrong with a lot of people. They don't take policy and their job seriously. There are no short cuts in surgery.

 

[MSHell]

As mentionned before, it was a LAPAROSCOPY!!!!!!!!

 

[78222]

Speaking of counts coming up wrong... I was on a transplant procurement at UNC and when we had finished the procurement and were ready to close up, the circulator started freaking out that there was a missing sponge and that we'd have to do an xray. The attending I was working with (and one of the nicest guys in the world) said "I don't care if there is a sponge missing, the patient is DEAD and we are behind schedule" but the nurse was flipping out telling the scrub nurse not to give him suture. The attending got furious, grabbed the suture himself, closed the patient and told them to file a complaint if they wanted.

 

[smq123]

She is just doing her job. If it was me on that table or my family, I would want a good circulator following protocol and taking her job seriously. THis is what is wrong with a lot of people. They don't take policy and their job seriously. There are no short cuts in surgery.

I suppose you just didn't read that post very carefully....

To this nurse, it seemed nothing in the world existed except counting anything and everything. At the end of a lap chole, she came up one short on the Raytex.

If you've ever seen a laparoscopic procedure, you'll know how hard it is to get a 4x4 piece of gauze stuck inside the patient.

Speaking of counts coming up wrong... I was on a transplant procurement at UNC and when we had finished the procurement and were ready to close up, the circulator started freaking out that there was a missing sponge and that we'd have to do an xray. The attending I was working with (and one of the nicest guys in the world) said "I don't care if there is a sponge missing, the patient is DEAD and we are behind schedule" but the nurse was flipping out telling the scrub nurse not to give him suture. The attending got furious, grabbed the suture himself, closed the patient and told them to file a complaint if they wanted.

 

[Ashers]

If you've ever seen a laparoscopic procedure, you'll know how hard it is to get a 4x4 piece of gauze stuck inside the patient.

I a case where they kept putting Raytecs in the patient during a laparoscopic Nissen and a chole too. The circulator just kept a running tally of laps actually IN the patient on the board.

In one case, one was hiding towards the end of the case, so they had to search for it for a little bit.