As for going directly to the OR, find out if that OR has any requirement for nursing for however many years vs going directly into the OR.
As to floor nursing- ick. I'd recommend some critical care unit, be it the ER, Cath Lab, one of the ICU's, depending on how large the hospital is. I came from a small hospital which way back then had an ICU, a CCU and after a time a CTICU(open heart). Any of those specialty areas are great preperation for nursing, anyway.
BTW, if you have any ambition to become a CRNA(you can make a lot of money giving anesthesia), then you'll need two years of critical care experience- and the OR doesn't count.
If I were starting out and had to work for two years before going to the OR, I'd go to the critical care areas. My current hospital is huge and has so many of them it isn't funny; RICU,MICU,SICU,BICU,PICU,NICU,VIR, etc.
I'll try to be coherent in my answers
I've got until December for my nursing program and I've come across a few posts you've written. Wondered if I might be able to pick your brain.
I got into the nursing program after working in an ASC for a couple of years. I wasn't employed by the center, but I came there with my MD who operated there as an ophthalmic tech. I love surgery and the OR. I never, ever considered becoming a nurse because I didn't believe I could hack it.
I decided to make a career change and pursue my RN. It is one of the best decisions I've ever made. It's tough, but I love it.
I keep hearing about this "golden time" as a new grad where you'll be treated special because any unit will take you since they can mold you to their preference. I know I'm not crazy about the floor. I know I love the OR, but I also worry that I wouldn't be able to work on a critical unit (say SICU or something) if I start in the OR. Can you tell me what you think?
