OR vs. Home Health position- Which should I pick?

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

Hello Nurse Beth,

I'm a new nurse with an option for Circulating nurse (OR), or Home Health RN.

My desire is to work in tele or ICU, but these positions require at least 1 yr experience and a BSN. I have an ADN and currently working on BSN.

Which position would best allow me to land a job in critical care in the future (not great choices but got to work with what I have)? Thank you!!

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Dear OR or Home Health,

If the OR job is in acute care, then you will be better positioned to apply for other in-house positions, including Tele or ICU. You will have the benefit of being an inside applicant.

Even if the OR job is outpatient, it's still seen as more similar to ICU than Home Health. At the same time, OR training is extensive.

I wouldn't recommend working Home Health without some acute care experience. You will be on your own in the home.

While neither OR nor Home Health are a direct stepping stone to ICU or Tele, OR would seem to be a better fit for your career goals.

Best wishes,

Nurse Beth

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

I'm biased, but I would vote for the OR position.

Agree with Beth- home health care as a new grad sounds scary to me- you're on your own with only a telephone call to help with guidance and you're having to make that transition from nursing student to practicing nurse.

OR, if at an inpatient facility, will not only give you access to internal job postings but will also let you create an employment history with your employer- you'll have your annual reviews and any disciplinary actions on file.

About the only thing to be concerned with the OR position is if you'd have to sign a contract- because the training is so long, it's not uncommon for there to be an expectation to remain for a few years so the hospital at least gains something from their investment in your training.

[Nurse Beth, MSN]

I'm biased, but I would vote for the OR position.

Agree with Beth- home health care as a new grad sounds scary to me- you're on your own with only a telephone call to help with guidance and you're having to make that transition from nursing student to practicing nurse.

OR, if at an inpatient facility, will not only give you access to internal job postings but will also let you create an employment history with your employer- you'll have your annual reviews and any disciplinary actions on file.

About the only thing to be concerned with the OR position is if you'd have to sign a contract- because the training is so long, it's not uncommon for there to be an expectation to remain for a few years so the hospital at least gains something from their investment in your training.

Excellent :)