[NewGradRN2007]

I have just graduated from nursing school and want to go immediately into my one and true love, OR nursing. I'm an older student, know what areas I like and don't, and prefer not to "put in my time" in med-surg before going into the OR. Is this even a possibility in Canada?

I already have job offers from a couple of US hospitals but prefer to stay in Canada. New grad OR internships were easy to find in the US but I haven't had any luck yet at home.

Does anyone know of any hospitals that hire new grads into the OR?

Thank you!

[janfrn]

It could be very difficult to get hired into the OR fresh from school. I won't say it's impossible because stranger things have happened. But there is a lot to know and skills to perfect to be able to work effectively in the OR. There's much more to it than knowing what the instruments look like. You might find it useful to take a post-basic perioperative nursing course before you apply, but there's nothing that says you can't just throw your hat into the ring and see what happens.

[NewGradRN2007]

Thank you Janfrn! I have seen some hospital postings that "will consider new grads", but am looking for a structured program if possible. The internships that I have been offered in the US are Periop 101 that have classroom time combined with preceptored OR time.

Does anyone know of anything like this in Canada?

[janfrn]

Both BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology) http://www.bcit.ca and SIAST (Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology) http://www.siast.sk.ca have perioperative nursing courses such as you've described. They offer both classroom and online courses, but neither of them is cheap...

[Jen-OR RN]

Hi,

I'm also a new grad and I got accepted in working in the OR in Vancouver, BC. I'm doing this New Grad Program with Fraser Health where I have 150 practice hours with a buddy nurse. The hospital also sponsors your schooling in BCIT. I will be starting my Perioperative course in April. It is a total of 6 month of school First three month is a correspondence course and the last three months is full time which the hospital pays you for attending. I know a lot of hospitals are accepting new grads in the OR in BC. You just have to apply and try.

Jen

[NewGradRN2007]

Thanks for the tips! I have a recruitment flyer from Fraser Health but the New Grad program doesn't list OR as an option. I will give them a call today. So is that an entirely on the job training, where you are employed/paid during the class and clinical hours? I am trying to avoid any further full-time 'school' (debt) if possible.

Thanks again!

[Jen-OR RN]

It's not listed as an option, but if you apply for it, the recruiters would first contact the managers to see if they approve of it. You will than get an interview and if you get hired, you'll prolly be hired as a New Grad which is part of the Practice Start Program at Fraser Health. You get 15 hrs of workshops and 150 practice hours on the ward ( which is approx 20 shifts since they are 8 hrs shifts) They always need nurses, but I'm not sure if will sponsor any more OR nurses this year at Burnaby Hospital because they just put my friend and hopefully me through the BCIT course. It really depends on their budget. I know Royal Columbian is a really good learning hospital. If you're going to apply with Fraser Health, you should definately go to Royal Columbian or Burnaby to learn since they are the newer hospitals...unless you live closer to Abbotsford, cuz they just built a new hospitals there.

And for the 2nd questions, yes they do pay for your tuition/textbooks plus full wages when you attend school fulltime (It's awesome, but lots of papers =( according to my friend).

Definately just apply for the OR everywhere and see if they will accept you as a New Grad cuz they alway smake exceptions, I know St.pauls has a really good in house OR program, you will learn lots there, they have a variety of surgeries.

Anyways, feel free to ask me more questions! cuz I wished I had someone to go to about this!!

[kiwipie7]

It is possible to go straight into the OR following graduation. Vancouver is adopting a new graduate program that allocates 150 mentorship hours in whichever department you apply for following graduation (includes OR, PACU, emerg, etc). I was doing my last BSN preceptorship experience in the OR and managed to get my New Grad placement in the same OR. After I finished my 150 hours, the manager hired as a casual employee while waiting for a space in the perioperative specialty nursing program. try googling fraser health authority or vancouver coastal health authority.
Everything is changing now. We no longer need a minimum of 2 years of med-surg experience because all the nurses are retiring. hope this helps... good luck!

[kiwipie7]

oops, didn't realize that Jen had already answered your questions.. anywhoo.. good luck...
btw: hey "Jen-OR RN"

[back2bRN]

Check out Calgary Health region. Lots of postings for OR nurses, some are offering training, relocation ect.