How do I handle transferring specialties while as a new grad? I started my career in the operating room, and I HATE it. No one spoke to me for a month and today an anesthesiologist threw a stirrup at me cause I had set it down in his way. Help

Throw a stirrup back. Don't take that crap.

That sounds more like a toxic work environment. You might like OR if you had a different team. But, I'm assuming you're in a hospital setting, where being an internal candidate will make transferring easy. If you need more orientation because of switching areas, they should be understanding.

Speak to your manager. Document everything. Keep a journal. Inform HR of the anesthesiologists behavior (Thankfully you didn't get hurt). Call your Union Rep!! And as stated above, transfer out. Maybe to Med-surg for a bit. I worked med-surg for 2 years before transferring to the ER, then PACU and so on. Good luck. Remember, you ARE VALUABLE... They need YOU!

That's assault, I'm sorry this happened. Did you report it? Are you okay ? Do you have a union? Your physical, mental, & emotional health comes first.

It sounds like a toxic work environment and I feel it is pretty common in health care from my experience-- a lot of judgment, cliques, and workplace aggression. You should apply for another job and you might get it. I think you should try applying and you will get something. The earlier you leave, the better for your self-esteem, mental and physical health.

You poor newbie. I feel your pain. First and foremost you need to learn how not take that kind of abuse. Do NOT BE AFRAID of them. I too had an anestheologist throw an old style chart across the PACU in my direction. I would not recommend doing this ever...BUT I picked it up and threw it right back at him. The whole place froze. You know what, one night I was on call and had to come in and I had my one and only ever case of DIC. Guess who was my anesthesia guy? Yep Mr. Temper tantrum...BUT that night he never left my side, and hung in there with me....I never forgot that...and no one else did either.

Now as for the transfer out of the OR. You are going to have to get yourself some outright/hard as all MS experience. In this market they want hardcore experience. BUT every newbie that has been hired into a "specialty" has had to gut out basic training camp in the halls of the MedSurg Unit. Just the ugly fact now. BUT here is a way of looking at it. I would rather be miserable knowing that this time is going to get me to my goal as opposed to misery with little or no end of getting you where you really want to be.

I promise you, it will get better. But you have to make some tough decisions. Besides (newbie) an OG GOAT RN like me will help you in times of distress. LOL!!!!

I am so sorry that you had such a bad experience in the OR. I have been part of Perioperative Nursing since 1975 and LOTS have changed. There is no excuse for rudeness and bullying. Maybe try a different facility before you give up on this area of nursing. Sometimes, people exist in a toxic environment. Find a friendly family!

It sounds like this staff is making the beginning of your OR experience awful. You may not have the courage to throw the stirrup back but that person and their actions definitely need to be addressed immediately!
For your sanity and safety; document and report. Also, find out if you can work with a different team.

I understand. I started as a new grad into a training program and the other long time nurses were extremely "clique-y" and were extremely connecting and rude to me. They complained about anything I did and tried to get me written up and fired. There were some doctors of the same culture that were friends with the nurses and they had the same attitude and inappropriate treatment towards me.

I stuck it out due to necessity as I didn't want to repay them (per contract) for the training. It took almost the full two years of my commitment to feel accepted and start to enjoy my job. I later was grateful that I stuck it out. I later have this exact same advice to other new grads that I saw being bullied. If you really can't stand it, go ahead and make a change. But I can tell you from experience that it DOES get better with time and experience in your specialty.

Best to you and keep your chin up. You are not alone in feeling this way. You aren't the first and sadly you won't be the last m

Have you gone through the full orientation? What do you mean no one spoke to you for a month? Can you expand? If you’re fresh off orientation… give yourself time. Nursing is hard and it took me about 6-12 months to really get any sense of not wanting to shift units. It’s emotional, tiring and critical thinking overload and you’re surrounded by others who can do it with their eyes shut. Give yourself some grace. Life of a new grad is a challenge, and working myself with some anesthesiologists that were, shall we say, “abrasive”, was an Everest. I was dressed down several times in front of a patient in the OR during an epidural. I did try to sift through the commentary with fellow nurses and leave the egotistical comments behind and take the constructive changes I could make. Over time I earned their respect, but abuse is not to be tolerated. It might warrant a talk with your nurse manager or the anesthesiologist themselves at a quieter time in a professional way. Don’t just quit right now as a new nurse. Keep going first after you exhaust all resources, lean on fellow nurses and your manager or charge. Then make a decision after your first year after orientation. You won’t change egos or it won’t be made easier for you when emotions are high, but you will have wins ahead and you’ll earn your stripes. You can do this.

I spent my 50 year career in the OR. I think you either love it or hate it.

I’ve seen this happen to many people. You need to get an idea of where you want to be - hospital, office, etc. Then look for positions that will take a new grad. Lots of places have new grad training programs, you just have to look. Truthfully, that may only be for hospital jobs. Good luck!