C-Section experience count as surgery experience?

brownbook · Jan 14, 2015

IMHO it would make a big difference.

Nursing schools do not train nurses to work OR. So hiring nurses to work OR requires the hospital to provide 2, 3, 6, ( ? ) months of orientation.

Having circulated in C-sections would, (should), put your application at the top of the pile compared to nurses who have never been in the OR.

Have you considered applying to the OR in the same hospital you already work in?

VeniVidiVici · Jan 15, 2015

Yes, our OR is going to be the first place I try. Im going to see if they have any positions open soon. The only thing is that I feel really guilty for leaving. Im going back and forth on whether I should wait until I have put in at least a year..

brownbook · Jan 15, 2015

No need to feel guilty, there are 100's of nurses available to fill your current position.

Understand why you're so unhappy now. Don't jump from the frying pan into the fire!

VeniVidiVici · Jan 15, 2015

Don't jump from the frying pan into the fire!

I hope that is not the case! I think my unhappiness is due to a few different reasons. It was never my first choice and now I know it just isn't for me. That and the unit culture is very catty. I just can't take the bullying anymore. Some of my peers have told me that its like this for everyone at first and once I'm there for a year or two it will change. I don't think I can last that long. I dread going in every single day. Just thinking about going back makes me sad.

toomuchbaloney · Jan 16, 2015

I hope that is not the case! I think my unhappiness is due to a few different reasons. It was never my first choice and now I know it just isn't for me. That and the unit culture is very catty. I just can't take the bullying anymore. Some of my peers have told me that its like this for everyone at first and once I'm there for a year or two it will change. I don't think I can last that long. I dread going in every single day. Just thinking about going back makes me sad.

Please be aware that specialties like L&D and OR and ED can all have very catty cultures because they are so different from the other departments and typically have isolated staffing, meaning that not just any "joe" is competent to work in the area without potentially putting the patient or the employer at risk. That "isolation" coupled with the very specific protocols and skills required to master the care CAN lead to some unsavory attitudes and behaviors.

That does not mean that ALL ORs or L&Ds or EDs are dysfunctional, it simply means that they are at greater risk if they do not have good and proactive management and leadership, IMHO.

wannabecnl · Jan 16, 2015

I agree with several points above. First, yes, C-sections are surgery. Anesthesia, meds, risk, and recovery all have their places in L&D as well as in the OR!

Second, I say this with understanding of how frustrating it is to be in a job you don't like, but PLEASE shadow in the OR before you make a change. I went into nursing school planning to do OR, but when I shadowed in the OR, I found it wasn't what I thought. I work in PACU now and love it, but it is very different. Not saying you wouldn't like it, but be sure you do--it is very, very different from other types of patient care.

LAM2010, BSN · Jan 16, 2015

Hi!

Your nursing experience and your OR experience will help. Even with just the 6 months experience - you are not so ingrained in other types of nursing that adjusting to OR nursing would be difficult :) They say that new nurses are a good idea to orient to the OR because they're fresh and aren't "ruined" by other types of nursing. Not that other types of nursing are bad. It's just a different flow. Good luck.

VeniVidiVici · Jan 19, 2015

Please be aware that specialties like L&D and OR and ED can all have very catty cultures because they are so different from the other departments and typically have isolated staffing, meaning that not just any "joe" is competent to work in the area without potentially putting the patient or the employer at risk. That "isolation" coupled with the very specific protocols and skills required to master the care CAN lead to some unsavory attitudes and behaviors.
That does not mean that ALL ORs or L&Ds or EDs are dysfunctional, it simply means that they are at greater risk if they do not have good and proactive management and leadership, IMHO.

My fingers are crossed that anywhere I move will be better than what I am dealing with now. One of my co-workers even told me that one of my superiors got mad at her because she was talking to me. After hearing that, I know I need to get out. This is just a crushing environment for a new nurse. Some of my fellow new grads at other hospitals have told me its just the nursing culture where I'm at and to get out.

adpiRN · Jan 26, 2015

I'm counting on it!

I have over three years of L&D experience and just applied for a PRN position in pediatric OR.

I likely don't have enough relevant experience for PRN, but the listing didn't specify, so is worth a shot.

I'm kind of obsessed with the idea of pediatric surgery for some reason.

(If they won't hire me PRN with only L&D/c-section experience I may apply for part-time eventually.

I just really love the flexibility of PRN since I have a 2 year old.)

Argo · Jan 27, 2015

Sorry but as a person that does the hiring for the OR and has done it successfully for a few years, I do not count OB/L&D experience. If I am looking for periop101 positions to be filled then yeah you do go up higher. If I want experience, I hire OR experience....

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 27, 2015

C-section experience is going to be very limited, and many of those doing hiring are not going to consider it experience when thinking about orientation- if you were to come to my facility, you would still get the 9 month residency as you would not be considered as having OR experience instead of the 6-12 weeks given to those with experience. Being able to circulate one type of surgery doesn't really translate into being able to circulate all kinds of surgery, and the only benefit I can see is if you were up against someone else who hadn't set foot in an OR before.