[KristinWW]

I just graduated from a BSN program, and am about to begin a 9 month internship in OR. I am thrilled, as I began nursing school wanting OR, and still do after graduating!

This is my question - I want to relocate next year, but I'm wonder about my chances of getting hired. I'm afraid facilities will either want a GN that they can mold for their internships, or they will want an OR nurse with several years experience. Is it possible to obtain a position in another area of the country with only 9 months completed?

[SarasotaRN2b]

I think that if you are definite about wanting to relocate, you should pass on this internship even if it is what you wanted. The hospital is investing alot in training someone for the OR who will be there when the internship is finished.

Also, if you want to relocate, why wait...just start applying for GN positions when you finish school. If you plan to move out of the state, take the NCLEX in that state instead of Florida where you are now leaving. I'm sure that you can find a comparable internship in the OR where you want to live.

JMHO

Originally Posted by KristinWW

I just graduated from a BSN program, and am about to begin a 9 month internship in OR. I am thrilled, as I began nursing school wanting OR, and still do after graduating!

This is my question - I want to relocate next year, but I'm wonder about my chances of getting hired. I'm afraid facilities will either want a GN that they can mold for their internships, or they will want an OR nurse with several years experience. Is it possible to obtain a position in another area of the country with only 9 months completed?

[fergus51]

It looks really bad to future employers for you to take a 9 month hospital investment and then leave. I would also suggest waiting until you relocate to try to get into the OR or making a real commitment to your current hospital (I'm actually surprised they don't demand a 1-2 year commitment in exchange for your training).

[gauge14iv]

Many hospitals make you sign an agreement which states that you will remain employed for a certain amount of time after the completion of the internship OR you will pay them to reimbuse the expense of putting you through the internship if you don't stay. This is pretty standard I believe. I have had to sign such an agreement before. The cost of the internship was priced at like 5000.00 so it wasn't cheap, OR you had to agree to work for two years post completion.

It isn't fair to a current employer for them to foot the bill and then for you to leave! And a future employer probably wouldn't look kindly on that either.

[suzanne4]

If you definitely going to be moving next year, do not begin this OR training unless your facility knows up front that you will be leaving. It costs quite a bit to train an RN to be fully functional in the OR, that is why many have you sign a two year agreement. While they are paying you your salary, and remember that you do not count in the staffing numbers, they are paying the educator, as well as the preceptor.......

I would definitely discuss this with them first.

[KristinWW]

1) House was on the market for 3 months - did not sell and now school is starting for the little ones, and we can't have them leave mid-year.

2) The facility already knows that we will relocate.

I am just asking on the part of those hiring, not my current situation, on the one year of experience.

[gauge14iv]

One way around this might be is you do the internship where you live now and then when you relocate, you take a job at the new locale with the same company (ie: HCA, Tenet) I have seen those arrangements made in the past.

[suzanne4]

Your orientation is going to be repeated where ever you go, probably for a minimum of six months, even if you have had your orientation, to get oriented to how they do things at the new facility. Most will give an orientation of about 3 months to an "old-timer"--- but with 9 months, you will only be finishing up your orientation..........and will still be considered a "newbie" in terms of the OR.

This is why I stated that it may not be the best idea to start..............

[KristinWW]

Thank you for the responses and advice!!! I spoke to three recruiters and OR managers today, and they answered my question about the one year of experience.