ER and OR nursing

[jwood15]

I'm currently in an accelerated second bachelors degree nursing program. I just started two weeks ago, and I will finish in exactly 12 months. I've always wanted to end up in the OR, but have heard that nurses are no longer really needed there due to cheaper surg techs, and also that working as a scrub nurse in the OR doesn't pay very well..

I was hoping to get some information from those who have worked as a nurse in the OR, what their jobs entailed, if the pay is worth it, and upon my graduation--the quickest way to end up in the OR.

I was also hoping to get the same information from any ER nurses on here. What is the fastest way to end up in the ER? Do you enjoy what you do? Is it competitive to land there?

and lastly, if there happens to be anyone who has worked in both areas, some comparison between the two...what you liked/didn't like about each one.

Thanks!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

OR nurses will likely never go away, for several reasons:

1. 23 states have laws requiring RNs to circulate.

2. 16 states have laws requiring RNs to circulate in ambulatory surgery centers.

3. Medicare requires any ST or LPN in the OR to be under the supervision of an RN who is immediately available to intervene and provide care. One charge nurse for multiple ORs most likely would not meet this requirement. How could the charge nurse be immediately available in more than one place?

4. In addition to these regulations, many facility policies do require RN circulators.

Points 1-3 are from RN Circulator : Association of periOperative Registered Nurses

Yes, it is true that STs are cheaper, but they are not as versatile. In my facility, they may not dispense medications to the sterile field, they may not insert foley catheters, and they may not do any documentation of any sort. Only RNs may fulfill those duties, making them a necessary part of the surgical team.

As for your other questions, check out the OR nursing forum- several of these questions have been answered, and while the threads may not have been updated recently, some of the information is still relevant. I will say that I love my job most days (every job has its bad days). I am also compensated fairly compared to other nurses in my facility- OR nurses get the same base hourly rate. I do make more money as a result of being on call and getting called in. Looking at my base rate, I would get paid approximately $57,000/year with no overtime and no call. I actually made $82,000. However, it does have tradeoffs in that there is a limited ability to do things when on call.

[sarahsmile44]

I work in a very large hospital where ER jobs are abundant...even for new grads.

The only way to get into an OR position here is to apply for the OR Nurse Residency. It's 26 weeks of classroom and clinical rotation. They pay is great and the hours are 0700-1500. They take applications for around a dozen spots, twice a year. Over 700 apply and they interview about 100 people out of that pile, in group interview style. Just got a call to interview, but had to decline it because I'm expecting and it would drastically cut my maternity leave =( Maybe next time =)