[joey442000]

Just curious if any CRNA's in here started there nursing career in the OR before getting ICU experience and going on to CRNA school?

[MmacFN]

Hey Joey

My understanding is that the OR is seen the same as PACU and ER. Some schools will consider it but the majority want ICU time.

[joey442000]

i dont think you unserstood the question. i mean did anyone here start their nursing careers in the or BEFORE moving on to persue critical care experience then go to crna school

[MmacFN]

Ohh

Sorry!

I dont know anyone who transitioned into the ER from graduation. The OR is unlike every other part of nursing and (at least where i work) requires you to have experience and take a special class before starting.

Might not be the same everywhere tho

[GCShore]

Hi,
I did CCU first, wound up in pediatric/general OR then CVOR, then went back to MICU to pursue CRNA school. The OR experience is priceless.....especially when starting clinicals. You know the environment, what to touch, and what not to. You also know instrumentation and equipment, not to mention positioning. Now, CRNA can be done without OR experience and is daily; however, for me, I can't imagine doing CRNA school without previous OR experience. I have been called "bilingual", because I know suture, instruments, how to adjust the cut and coag of the bovie, etc.
Best of Luck
GCShore

Originally Posted by joey442000

Just curious if any CRNA's in here started there nursing career in the OR before getting ICU experience and going on to CRNA school?

[ortess1971]

I was going to post my question as a new thread but then I saw this-I just graduated an ADN program and will be working in the OR. I too am interested in being a CRNA someday and was wondering if it would be easy for me to get my ICU training in a couple of years. (I figured on working in the OR while I work on my BSN-because I love the OR atmosphere and because I feel comfortable there( I was a scrub tech) I know that many places take new grads into the ICU but do you think they would take a "semi-new" nurse there as well? I love to learn and am not afraid to try new things so I'm hoping that will work in my favor.....

[joey442000]

thank you for the post. i almost have a year of OR under my belt i am planning on getting into a CVICU soon after i hit it. was it hard to adjust to the floor after coming out of the OR. i havent did any floor nursing since my senoir preceptorship. i bet my assessments are horrible. anyways any ifo you can tell me will be greatly appreciated.

[apaisRN]

Two of my classmates took this route. I believe they were OR nurses who observed CRNAs at work and decided to pursue the field. Personally, I would have been so grateful for OR experience during my first months of clinical! Even now. Just understanding how the whole place functions, who does what, how long a given procedure might take - it would have been priceless.

[MissJoRN]

I worked with a CRNA who was an OR nurse first, liked the challenge of the CRNA role, etc, worked the units and went back to school. Currently also work with an RN who had prior critcal care experience before coming to the OR and is considering returning to ICU to pursue a CRNA career. Hearing how some SRNAs are treated early in clinicals I'm sure it helps boost confidence. You know your way around a sterile field, etc. I know how eager some circulators are to catch an OR newbie "too close" to the field so they can be loudly humiliated! I guess the counterbalance to that is having to remember to keep an open mind and resist the urge to say "but I've always seen it done this way", etc. But that's just like anytime we take on a new learning experience. Sounds like it's a daily tongue bite anyway for any SRNA who meets differnt protocols in every room they go to
As far as returning to the floor... don't sweat it! I keep skipping back and forth and it is an adjustment with a little "culture shock" but it all clicks back into place quickly. My newest floor nursing job had me paired up with a preceptor known for being harsh. I was warned that her last preceptee quit in the middle of a shift, in tears, but to give it a try anyway because she's good and usually OK to work with. Even the preceptor herself warned me she could get nasty. Everytime I shrugged and pointed out that I've worked in the OR for 4 years... everyone smiled and said "Oh. Then you'll be fine" So will you, LOL!

[rn29306]

Originally Posted by MmacFN

Hey Joey

My understanding is that the OR is seen the same as PACU and ER.

While all schools are indeed different, none of the schools I applied to (3) would consider OR time.

This might ruffle some feathers, but let's be honest here. OR nurses do not manage patients in any manner whatsoever. Assist patients to the OR bed and perhaps assist with positioning - Yes. Maybe help with induction by holding a mask or handing an anesthesia provider the tube - Yes. In all the hospitals I have rounded at, this is their sum total involvement with patient contact.

I am not knocking OR nurses at all. But I really don't see how you can consider OR nursing and ICU / ER nursing equivalent as far as patient management goes.