A Case of which came first the chicken or the eggs?

[FreestylePete, BSN, RN]

I am a RN of over 12 years trying to break into OR Nursing but every interview I go on they all want at least a year of experience. So how can I get that experience if no hospital will give me a chance in the OR. By the way I have over 5 years as a medical surgical nurse and over the last 7 years I work in Ambulatory Surgery.

[ChristineAdrianaRN, BSN, RN]

That is definitely frustrating - especially since you have a lot of relevant experience. Have you tried applying at any teaching hospitals? I think they are more receptive to hiring nurses without experience.

[HollywoodDiva]

FreestylePete I just sent you a message, check your inbox...hopefully it gives you pointers on how to go about it to get into the O.R.

[FreestylePete, BSN, RN]

Yes thanks for your email. I tried teaching hospitals to.

[Ilovethe80s]

Where I live, the local college offers a periop nursing course for RN's or RN students in their last semester. In the periop course, the student is required to spend 160 clinical hours in the OR. Where I work, the only way they will take someone w/o any OR experience is if they have taken the periop course and have completed their clinical hours. This may be an avenue for you to take. Check your local colleges and see if they have anything like this available. This is how I got into the OR and we just hired an experienced med-surg charge RN who completed her 160 hrs in two months and they offered her a job before she had even completed her clinical hours. Best of luck!

[FreestylePete, BSN, RN]

Do you know of any in NY that offer it?