hedgehog-girl

I guess if I was you I would basically either go around the public hospitals and ask if they are taking on any training roles and get in that way or approach the private sector. You'll work long long hours in theatre in the private sector but then at least you will get a foot in the door. No exciting operations but it will give you the basic start and knowledge that you need to gain experience.

Failing that, if there are no jobs whatsoever, then maybe doing an extra part time job as a hca within theatres might help you get to know people and how it all works and then you can keep your ear out for any possible jobs that may come up.

meljor

Cheers for that, I can tell you I am very nervous about the job shortage back home but friends and family beckon. I feel like I have no life outside of work and have to work nights during the week as there is no one to watch over the kids if I worked days. I would have loved to do the periop certificate at the Royal Melbourne but couldn't because of the kids and everything the job certainly has been the best thing about our time here. Would you recommend doing the ODP course and if so how do I find out about it, I have tried Google, also can anyone tell me the name of the Theatre Nurses association that is based in Harrogate so I can contact them.

magicsprout

there are some hospitals particually in ot of the way areas that will employ peolple from the wards if they are keen and show an understanding of what the role entails. my hospital has taken on people from care homes in the past. they are advertising on the trust website at the moment for theatre hca's and theatre practitioners. try ringing them you might get lucky.
personally the way things are going it might be benficila to train as an odp and some hospitals do offer fast track courses where you can cut the training down to a year, however you are pretty much stuck within the theatre environment and if you find you dont like it its hard to change.
theatres is a rewarding enjoyable role but it is tough long shifts missed breaks etc and all the time you are on your feet getting zapped by xrays and wearing lead coats, not to mention the smell in general theatre.
Derriford hospital (Plymouth) 0845 155 8155 Anne Butler is the main theatre manager im not sure who runs the cardiac, urology and gynae sections

meljor

Thanks Magicsprout for the reply will try the hospitals around Yorkshire see if they are willing to take me on as you have suggested, wish me luck

hedgehog-girl

Here are some useful contacts:-

http://www.aodp.org/

http://www.natn.org.uk/

I would recommend doing the ODP course because it teaches you anaesthetics recovery and scrub/scout but without having to do all ward based stuff, its a diploma course and very detailed.

meljor

Thanks again Hedgehog-girl, I will definately look into that because I am tired of working on the wards.

Margaret3

Although we're well staffed , we continually take new nurses to theatre to train as our hosp does not employ ODP's , theatre manager DEAD against it, although i have worked with odp's in the past and cant see her point, quite frankly

hedgehog-girl

Where I work in Sydney a lot of the hospitals won't take on ODP's which is absolutely stupid. To have people specially trained in theatres is a godsend. One of my close friends is a great ODP and I am a big believer in having different people in theatre.

As for the smell???? How smelly is your theatre (he he he !) Mine isn't smelly at all (diathermy or not)....

Personally I love theatres, love the whole environment...well apart from the stress of having major cases rushing through the door which can exhaust you completely, but its all good. Good luck!

Margaret3

Right now i hate it, was on-call on friday and called at 9pm to 11 pm then 4 am to 9 am, my saturday was stuffed, mind you still managed to drag myself to the pub with the girls on sat night, lol

lisabarber

i am a theatre sister in trauma and awfulpaedics, we specialise in spines as well, those gowns drive me potty,and sweaty are the spinal cases done in the major hospitals ie royal perth, i have a friend in rockingham and curious to see if that type of surgery is done in local hospitals. i also do general and gynae as well.

hedgehog-girl

Glad to know other people have on calls. I am on call from Friday evening until Monday morning this weekend. As I work for a small hospital myself and another 2 others will get called in for everything apart from spinal, cardio, paeds and head injuries...but the rest is us... I always write off my weekends when I am on call as invariably I am out all day and most of the night. Gives me a renewed respect for Doctors who do this every single weekend, poor sods.

magicsprout

weve switched to a night shift now, the on calls got too bad and staffing a night shift was more cost effective, its a big relief for the day staff when we get big splats in.

Margaret3

I think eventually we'll go on to a shift pattern, the calls are really hellish now , but the 11hr break, that we must legally have now helps, and god knows i've been doing calls before that, dunno how i dun it now

Margaret3

eeeeeeeeeeek, and bugger, how the hell do you manage, 10 years ago , i maybe could've, but no way now, am past it at 42!!! I know it sounds pathetic, but i am

Just read this post to my husband, as he knows how often i am out when 'on-call', as i said we have the european directorate, you poor sods don't, hope the pay makes up for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mrs JFW

How are your plans coming along margaret?

jackie x