On Call and Anxious

Q: 

Dear Masked Maven,

I am a new OR RN who just completed orientation. I have been assigned to my own cases for a week now and feel like things are going well; however, I have my first on-call shift next week and my anxiety is through the roof. It is easier during the week because I know ahead of time the cases I will be doing and can prepare. But, what happens when I don’t know so far in advance? What if a surgeon asks for something that I am unfamiliar with? I am just worried I won’t know what to do. What do you recommend to help me feel more prepared? 

Sincerely, 

On Call and Anxious 

A: 

Dear On Call and Anxious,

First of all, congratulations on completing orientation. That is an amazing accomplishment! When it comes to being on call for the first time, it is normal to feel the way you do. I remember when I had my first call shift. I was so nervous. But, after a while, I found the anxiety was less and it was okay that I did not have advance knowledge of what I was going to be doing.

One thing that I did (and I highly recommend that you do) is to connect with one of your coworkers ahead of time (like your preceptor) to be a resource and have them available by phone. Knowing you have someone available to answer questions can decrease the anxiety you are feeling.

Another thing I did was keep a small notepad that would fit into my pocket with information specific to call situations (such as how to schedule a case, important phone numbers, and how to print off patient information pages/stickers). This was a great reminder of the things I would need to know that I did not need to do during the regular workday.

The team members on call with you also can be a great support as you are gaining experience. They can help you troubleshoot issues and anticipate what the surgeon will need. In addition, I found that preference cards were a wealth of information. They helped me to anticipate what I would need and gave me insight into what the surgeon preferred. While I was still nervous navigating call by myself, I did feel more prepared and supported.

Lastly, reach out to your department educator. Just because you are off orientation does not mean that you are on your own. Know who your resources are and lean on them when you need to.

As you gain experience being on call, these times will be less anxiety-producing. Wishing you the best as you navigate this new territory.

All the best,

Masked Maven

AORN Resources

• AORN Position Statement on Perioperative Safe Staffing and On‐Call Practices

AORN members can access:

• Clinical Issues—May 2022 - AORN Journal

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