how hard is it to get through a OR internship as a GN?

Specialties Operating Room

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Hi everyone,

I'm about to graduate in December with my ADN and am strongly leaning towards the OR. I'm curious as to how hard or how much work is involved in getting through an OR internship as a new GN, seeing as though they are usually 6-9months long. Is it really hard with lots of book work? or more hands on?

Thanks :)

Specializes in OR.

If you're doing to AORN periop 101 class it's lots of bookwork for the first 4 weeks and then all hands on for the rest of the program. I imagine a home grown version would be pretty much the same. I found it challenging but if you made it through nursing school you can do it.

If you're doing to AORN periop 101 class it's lots of bookwork for the first 4 weeks and then all hands on for the rest of the program. I imagine a home grown version would be pretty much the same. I found it challenging but if you made it through nursing school you can do it.

I'm planning on trying to become an RNFA and was looking into how to do it. From what I gather you have to have 2 yrs. OR experience and then go to class or do online classes for it. It doesn't seem that complicated to get it. Am I missing something or is it pretty straight forward??

Thanks for your help

Specializes in Operating Room.

It depends on where you live, the hospital, etc....

I am an OR-Intern...straight out of school. We actually did 3 weeks of class up front, 3 weeks of circulating. Now will have another week of class to refresh on scrubbing before doing the hands-on scrubbing.

After that, I guess will rotate scrubbing and circulating throughout the rest of the time.

(We have a 9-month internship.)

Good luck to you.

Specializes in OR.

I've been an OR nurse for 12 years and I started from nursing school knowing that OR was what I wanted to do. Now, after never having any med-surg experience I am finding it difficult to transfer out of the OR.

So, while it is possible (if you had good clinical experience), I would strongly recommend that you spend some time in med-surg, even just a year. The future is hard to predict. :twocents:

Was it hard for you to get into the OR as a new grad? I will be graduating in Dec. and I would love to work in the OR. Any tips for getting into the OR?

Specializes in OR.

My best advise for new GN's is to work on the floor and get a good strong back ground, once you've worked OR everything you have learned in school and on the floors goes right out the window. the OR is very specialized and is a whole other new aspect of nursing. If your really a go getter and want to make good money, work in ICU for a couple of years, go back to school and become a CRNA certified registered nurse anastatist

If a hospital is willing to take you on find out if they have an OR educator, make sure they teach didactics, scrubbing, sterile technique, instrumentation and most of all this training should be from 6mos to 1 year. I have seen new and potentially good RN's try to get into the OR but the training was horrible

Good luck

Specializes in OR.

It all depends on the OR, some are very willing to accept new grads. While others are old school and believe you have to have med-surg. I love surgery!!!!!! It's was what I wanted to do before nursing school and I started putting myself out there. I worked in the hospital and every chance I got, I let anyone I met from the OR know I was interested. GOOD LUCK to you

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