[bridgfor428]

I'm still a student; can anyone tell me how difficult it is to get into neurosurgical OR nursing, and how much experience (and what kind) is necessary beforehand...what the pay is like...are you happy or not that you've spent time doing it...and anything else you'd like to share about it in general.
thank you.

[JLynnOR]

Your best bet would be to ask this in the Operating Room Nursing section under Specialty Nursing. Usually nurses in the OR have to do a little of everything, even if neuro is your passion. The other thing would be to go to NP school and then work for a neurosurgeon assisting in surg and seeing pts in the office. General OR nursing would be a step in the process. Hope this helps.

[ELKMNin06]

Originally Posted by bridgfor428

I'm still a student; can anyone tell me how difficult it is to get into neurosurgical OR nursing, and how much experience (and what kind) is necessary beforehand...what the pay is like...are you happy or not that you've spent time doing it...and anything else you'd like to share about it in general.
thank you.

If you are interested in neuro take a look at The Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. If you worked there (Part of St. Josephs Hospital) you would be immersed in neuro. There are 20 ORs specifically for neuro...alll neuro...allll day..lol. I do know that they do take new grads into the OR with extensive new grad orientation. The pay is decent compared with cost of living. I am working in the neuro ICU and its great. Neuro is amazing and never dull.

[neurogeek]

A friend of mine worked for a neurosurgeon in Fort Worth for many years as his first assist in the OR. She had no neuro experience, he just trained her. Now she's a neuro ICU nurse, CNRN, and just the smartest person I know! Her salary was just over 60K but she worked 50-60 hrs. per week. That's why she finally left and came to the ICU where she could make the same money working 36 hrs per week!