New Grad OR nursing??

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Hey all. Just wanted to seek some advice for a difficult decision I may have to make shortly. So I finished up my BSN in December/January and passed my Nclex this month. I was offered a job interview with New York-Presbyterian/Cornell (I used to work there before nursing school). Now, as a new grad, getting a job or even an interview is extremely hard and I know I should be excited about this. However, this interview is for an OR staff nurse position and I would preferably want to go into some form of critical care/ED role position. I know that I should take any job that is offered as a new grad to gain experience before anything else but I feel that OR nursing experience will not help me gain any more experience for what I would like to do with my nursing career. I may even love OR nursing but IDK if it is a good idea for me to start off in OR as I feel I may be "handcuffing" myself to that dept of nursing before gaining any Med/Surg, acute care experience which will help me go where I want to in the future. Also, this interview is only being offered to me as my previous managers called in some favors so this is doubly stressful. I would hate to turn down a job offer that someone helped me get at one of the most prestigious hospitals in the country. And, if that wasn't enough stress, I literally got my license a week ago and people tell me no one gets a job that quickly so I would be crazy if I DIDN'T take it.....Any advice on this would help.

My main issue is not wanting to "waste" years in OR nursing just to have another hard time finding my desired job as my OR experience won't be relevant for any other type of nursing. Thanks again.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Postpartum.

I am surprised that hospital is hiring new grads for the OR. Most nurses who are in OR have several years of experience in critical care and even ER. Maybe they saw something special in you.

Med/surg is great in terms of learning time management and getting experience with caring for a multi-system patient population, but not all new grads start there and they are leading successful careers in their areas of choice.

Yes, new grad jobs are hard to come by, so I would start there and learn and then transfer within the hospital to a unit you are hoping to get into. That's the route many of us take. Employers love to hire within first, so it's about getting your foot in the door and making that lateral move.

Good luck.

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Thank you. That is my inclination at this point. And yea, they only hire new grads to specific new grad residency position slots about twice a year which is also making this more stressful as I am being helped out big time with this interview as I shouldn't even be able to apply for the job in the first place. Thanks again.

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Specializes in ED, Telemetry,Hospice, ICU, Supervisor.

TAKE THE OR JOB!!!! New grad being offered such an opportunity should not be wasted. Once your in, you can transfer later.

In my opinion OR is one of those prime jobs people kill for. Its like PACU, most of the time it is very nice and chill and saves your sanity.

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Definitely take it. If you dont like it you could always move around later.

And as far as your interest in critical care, if youre really lucky you could always move from the OR to PACU. Which I think would be really awesome. Although I think its more likely that your hospital would make you do a year in the ICU first then do the move.

Might be hard to do that at NYP, but id imagine at some smaller community hospitals its a realistic possibility.

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You don't know how fortunate you are to even have an interview. Do the interview. It's just an interview and no guarantee of a job. The interviewer may just be interviewing you to get the person off their back, you still have to make the cut.

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Specializes in ICU / PCU / Telemetry / Oncology.

Yes, you are crazy if you don't take it. It's the #1 hospital in New York! I'll take the job if you don't want it ... ?

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What an awesome opportunity! I have a glass is half full outlook in this situation. I don't believe you would be "wasting" time if you went into the OR. You need to have a positive attitude that will be noticed. You might be able to eventually transition from OR to PACU or another department if you so choose. I went straight to the OR and do not regret it. I worked hard and kept a positive attitude and now I'm working on going to the unit so I can eventually apply to anesthesia school. I once had reservations like you did, but the OR has been an awesome experience. I hope you find happiness and success with whatever path you choose.

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Take the job !!!!! I was so lucky to have a job right out of school. Now after a year ,I am starting at NY hospital next month and could not be more excited ! I'm also very nervous !

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Is your orientation may 5th?

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Did u get the job ?

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Did u get the job ?

HR called me with the offer but unofficially so still waiting for the official offer...trying not to get too excited. Which campus are you going to?

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