Best Route to Surgical Career

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Hello everyone,

I'm new here and this is my first post. I am very interested in surgery and I'm trying to decide which career path I should take. I am considering going to school and becomming certified as a Surgical Tech first then take the Surgical RN route. Ultimately I would want to go to a PA school that focuses on surgery. Here are my questions:

1) Does an OR nurse work only in the OR?

2) How does the role of the Scrub Tech and the OR Nurse differ?

3) Have any of you taken similar career paths or would you recommend something different?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :)

I'm looking to follow the same path J. I'll be 46 years old when I graduate next year and know that the OR is truly where I want to be. So...straight there is where I plan to go. 2 local hospitals have fellowships that hire GN's.

I can't wait to graduate!

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Specializes in Trauma, Education.

I graduated last May w/my ADN and wanted to go to the OR. My teachers said the same thing...do the year of med surg, you're limiting yourself too much. I lasted 6 weeks on the floor and transferred straight to the OR!!

I now work nights in a level 1 trauma center by a major med school and I LOVE IT!! My classmates say, "what a waste, you went to all that schooling, and you ONLY work in the OR"...I'll tell you what I ONLY do....

I get to go to places in the hospital no one else can. Once I get the surgeon, residents, students and scrub set up, I get to go to med school 'by proxy' as I can then sit and watch the case and listen to the surgeon teach. I have an incredible respect for the human body as never before, seeing first hand what it can do. I get to watch as old, dying organs are removed and watch as a new gray lung is placed in someone's chest and watch it pink up as it takes a breath again during a transplant. I get to work as a TEAM, not just one individual who is taking care of that patient. I have others to back me up. I know that no matter how busy we get, I will never be asked to circulate another room (on the floor, if it gets busy, you're pt load just increases!!).

I get yelled at a lot. I don't teach patients, but I do teach med students how to stay sterile and how to put in foleys!! I don't deal with whiney family members. I don't have to talk to anyone if I don't want to, I can just sit and do my job. There can be miserable down time if nothing is happening. I run around alot, but I've lost weight :o)! I know how to laugh and how to tell a surgeon to quit his whining.

Do what you want to do-not what they tell you-I love OR nursing!!

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Specializes in OR, Pediatrics.

thank you for your reply. i really appreciate your input on a day in the life of an or nurse. i can't wait to get in there!!!

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Specializes in Trauma, Education.

I would just like to say, for the record, that the wrong icon got placed in my message-it is a sad face, but I am actually very HAPPY that I've lost weight!!

Seriously, this is a great job and I'm sure I may be somewhat limited if I ever want to do anything else, but I feel things would come back to me with a little bit of refreshing. Good luck and go with your gut!!

rbs105

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Specializes in OR, Pediatrics.

how funny! I didn't even notice the sad face. Had just gotten home from a 12 hour clinical day and was very tired. :wink2:

Felt a bit confused last night as I had an interesting day in the ER and REALLY enjoyed the patient interaction. Don't get me wrong, I know I made the right decision for me, as well as my family. Just can't wait to get in there and start working. You said you get to visit with the families, etc. I hope the same goes for this job.

J

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Specializes in Trauma, Education.

Actually, I don't deal with families while working in the OR, which is nice, but I do miss a little bit. The only time I've had to deal w/families is if the pt dies in the OR and then we have to clean up the body and place it in the PACU or a quiet place where the family can sit w/the pt.

One of the downsides I've found is that at least on the floor, if you don't like the staff, you can go visit w/the patients. In the OR-especially at night, there is a limited amount of us and you kind of get sick of each other :lol2: !! I love the job when I am busy because it is a huge adrenalin rush and when something needs to be done, it needs to be done NOW. I imagine the ER would be similar. That would be my next choice....

rbs105

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Specializes in OR, Pediatrics.

well, I am looking for the adrenalin rush as well. I'd rather be busy, than bored. What hours do you work? my schedule will be 0630 - 1500 M-F and on-call occassionally from 3-7 or 7-11 and some weekends, too. The director mentioned at least 2 holidays a year on call. Sounds good to me! my kids are still young and I am excited to be able to see them when they get home from school.

thanks for all your input.

J

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Specializes in Trauma, Education.

I work 11p-7a or 7p-7a. On 7p-7a we are finishing daylight surgeries or transplants and then usually from 11p-7a it is just emergent cases, traumas or transplants. I moved to nights because of my kids (5 & 8 yo). I get home 10 min after they wake up and I go to work after they are in bed or if it is 7p-7a, I leave right after dinner. I am home during the day if something happens and they need me-I don't get alot of sleep and that is the biggest challenge, but I found I couldn't get out of cases during daylight hours and that was the worst to tell a sick 5 year old she had to stay at school cause mom couldn't come get her. This schedule is great for that-plus all the crazy stuff happens at night!!

rbs105

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