[Tweety]

Originally Posted by debbiemonica

Hi,
I'm a senior BSN nursing student and am considering OR nursing. Can anyone who practices is this field share with me your feelings about this type of nursing - pros and cons, etc. and what I should know before making this decision.
Thanks

Check out the OR Nursing forum we have here at Allnurses. You'll get a feel for the field and you can ask specific questions there rather than in this thread. Good luck.

[jnaboulle]

i have a question. I have a bachelors in healthcare administration and I am going back to school for my ADN is this wise or should I do a BSN? Can I get any management positions with an ADN and my bachelors in Healthcare Administration?

[palkie]

Hi and good luck to all you students out there! I've worked in ICUs for 15 years. Started in Surgical, moved to Trauma/Burn when they opened one. I loved it, still do, but there were some changes, I'm getting older, so I've gone back to school.

Here's my advice... just pay attention when you do your clinicals and get a 'feel' for what you like and what you don't... then precept anywhere and everywhere you can! That will help you get an idea of what's for you. If you can't precept in all the places you think you might like, see if you can just unofficially 'trail/hang out' with a nurse in whatever unit or area you are interested in. You might be surprised. As long as you are not doing patient care, (which would mean you'd have to be "official" or "approved") most nurses love to tell about their jobs.


Ask your instructors, ask nurses where you do clinicals, ask everyone; where you might do this and who with - we've had many students 'visit' our unit to get a feel for it. As a charge nurse, I never turned anyone down - again - as long as they stuck to just observing.


Also, sometimes it is easier to do this on night shift, where there are fewer administrators, fewer ancillary disciplines (physical therapy, dietary, occupational therapy, etc.) who have to see patients and may take up the nurses time - therefore a night shift nurse might be more willing to let you tag along or hang out for a while. I'm not saying you should do this at night, and 'sneak' around - definitely get approval from a charge nurse or manager - just that sometimes it is more likely to be allowed, or that you will find a willing nurse at night.


Also, when you get ready to work, and interview, ask for a tour of several units. You might just feel 'right' in one of them. I did. The SICU just felt right for me, for many reasons, and it stayed my home for 5 years.


Also remember! there is no shame in admitting a job simply is NOT right for you!! You may think you'll love something, then get part way thru your orientation and realize you hate it, or you are in over your head, or you're bored to death. TELL SOMEONE as soon as you realize this!! Very likely, the administration will be glad you spoke up, and will try to place you somewhere more suited to you. They'd rather do this than have you quit after a month and have wasted big $$ on your training!!


As for staying away from hospitals because they are too stressful... that may be VERY true for some, but some of us thrive on a little faster pace. Personally, I'd fall asleep (or become very lazy) without very sick patients to care for - but that's just me. We all have our niche, and somehow you'll all find yours.


Good luck to you all!

[palkie]

In response to:

i have a question. I have a bachelors in healthcare administration and I am going back to school for my ADN is this wise or should I do a BSN? Can I get any management positions with an ADN and my bachelors in Healthcare Administration?

I'm not really sure, but I don't think the ADN will give you any more opportunities than your Bachelor's in HCA. I could be wrong, but I am returning to school because I found my opportunities somewhat limited by my ADN. Don't get me wrong, I love bedside nursing, I'm just getting older, a little burnt out and needed a change. I worked for a University Hospital, and found that most positions required a BSN or at least a Bachelor's in some field. Why are you considering the ADN? Can you not find work with your current degree?

Unless you want to be a nurse - at the bedside - I really don't see what good this will do you. If you want a management position, I suggest a Master's in your field or at least a BSN.

There are some programs that will allow an MSN with an ADN and a BS in another field - but most are like CRNA or something where you would need experience as a nurse also.

Hope this helps at all...

[jnaboulle]

Originally Posted by palkie

In response to:

i have a question. I have a bachelors in healthcare administration and I am going back to school for my ADN is this wise or should I do a BSN? Can I get any management positions with an ADN and my bachelors in Healthcare Administration?

I'm not really sure, but I don't think the ADN will give you any more opportunities than your Bachelor's in HCA. I could be wrong, but I am returning to school because I found my opportunities somewhat limited by my ADN. Don't get me wrong, I love bedside nursing, I'm just getting older, a little burnt out and needed a change. I worked for a University Hospital, and found that most positions required a BSN or at least a Bachelor's in some field. Why are you considering the ADN? Can you not find work with your current degree?

Unless you want to be a nurse - at the bedside - I really don't see what good this will do you. If you want a management position, I suggest a Master's in your field or at least a BSN.

There are some programs that will allow an MSN with an ADN and a BS in another field - but most are like CRNA or something where you would need experience as a nurse also.

Hope this helps at all...

I had always hoped to get into nursing to be able to help patients as well, since it was what I had hoped to do.

[jojo1027]

I am now looking in to Hospice Nursing, but currently I work on a mental health floor and I am not getting the experience I would like to have before I move to more of a direct patient care.

[ummwhome]

Any advice on how to become a ARNP? Any online programs to take or should I go to a University? I have 2 yrs MedSurg. How many years of clinical practice do you recommend prior to enrolling for my MSN? thanks

[LadyJae24]

Thank you so much for the information, I have researched and did NOT come up with 1/2 the info you have given.

LadyJae

[knitingale]

This was very helpful. I'm trying to get started in the med field throgh nursing and this was great.

[Suesquatch]

Fabulous!

Thanks a lot.