I want to be an OR nurse in Tampa, FL

ShirleyM · Sep 26, 2004

Hi-
I am currently in the last semster of nursing school in Tampa, FL. I have wanted to be an OR nurse since before I started the program. The problem is all the jobs I see in the paper for OR nurses require experience.
Does anyone know of a hospital in Tampa or the surrounding areas yhat will train a new grad to work in the OR?
Thanks

I don't know of any place in Tampa but what you could do is go to the AORN website and go to their Education section. Just answer their questions and they give a list of places that have training programs for RNs and new grads who want to do OR nursing.

What you can also do is look for job ads in your local newpaper. In Dallas they have a small section in their career section just for medical professional every Sunday. That's how I got my start in looking for a place to train me in the O.R.

One more thing...go to your library at school and look up some of the latest nursing magazines, usually there are ads from hospitals across the country. If they offer O.R internships it's bound to be mentioned in their ads.

All the best in your search...

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Mar 1, 2005

Did you try looking at some websites and calling the HR departments of local hospitals?

You might try here at Tampa General, as I believe it's a teaching hospital as well as a Trauma Center.

http://www.tgh.org/sections/06_career/06_career/nursing-opps.htm

grimmy, RN · Mar 4, 2005

I started out in the OR directly out of nursing school...in fact, just over 6 months ago. I started in an official mentorship program, which has really helped me make the transition. That's not to say that I didn't have some serious challenges. About 3 months into it, there were a few times I found myself crying in the bathroom during a break, but I scrabbled through. I scrub AND circulate, and doing it any other way (in my mind) is just counterproductive. I think good circulators really know how to scrub. I, too, knew I wanted to be an OR nurse while I was in nursing school.

I would recommend that you look into externships or mentoring programs for the OR - there are quite a few around the country, but I'm not sure of any in the Tampa area. They are favored by teaching facilities, but there are a few private hospitals that have them, too. Do the research, and make sure you'll get a MINIMUM of six months "protected" status, meaning you are not taking call or left on your own, twisting in the wind, for 6 months. Six months may seem like a lot, but its not. I am keenly aware that I have TONS more to learn, and 6 months was the tip of the iceberg. That said, I am having a lot of fun, :) and I can't imagine doing any other type of nursing. I love going to work. Also, talk to the folks at AORN. I was a member while I was a student, and went to a conference in Chicago, which helped me to find a mentorship program. Good Luck!!