Options for career in OR nursing

Specialties Operating Room

Published

  • Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.

Id like to hear from all, not just OR nurses, what are long term careers for nurses in the OR with a masters/NP? What degree and what do you do? Thanks!

Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

CRNA, CNM, & RNFAs are the usual "advanced practice" perioperative roles. You don't need an MSN to become an RNFA (http://www.aorn.org/Clinical_Practice/RNFA_Resources/First_Assisting_(RNFA).aspx). Periop is just about the "most tenured" clinical specialty for nurses. I am concerned about the apparent lack of interest among new nurses... it's nice to see one of the young ones expressing an interest.

MadpeysRN

365 Posts

Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.

Thanks houtx! I know about these 3-I guess I was wanting to know if there is anything else. :) Seems like even crna would be hard to do with only a OR background.

I guess I was hoping to hear from you and those that have spent MANY yrs in the OR and see what you do-if there is anything besides crna, fa and Cmn including what degree you have. what did you do to advance your career after having spent a career in the OR.

flying_ace2

193 Posts

Specializes in Pharmaceutical Research, Operating Room.

HouTx, there's definitely interest!! I was just offered a new grad OR position, and you'd better believe I JUMPED on it!! :laugh: I'm also interested to see responses to this thread - I plan on staying in the OR a long, looonnnnggggg time, and am also interested in becoming an NP. Any insight into these dual roles is greatly appreciated - it will be nice to hear how other nurses make both work together!

MadpeysRN

365 Posts

Specializes in MedSurg, OR, Cardiac step down.

Congrats flying ace, I'm excited to start in the OR too. Just curious about my options for long term

cubsnurs

7 Posts

I worked OR/PACU for three years and LOVED it. It was where I always wanted to be... Until I started a family... It's didn't work out well with call, varied hrs, etc once my daughter was born so I had to make the painful decision to leave.

However, if you enjoy it and stay there long term, you could become a RNFA, obtain your CNOR, be a scrub nurse, charge nurse, department educator, or heck, even a supervisor. Several of the RN's I worked with also served on the R&D and implementation of our Emr interface for surgery.

It really comes down to the size & abilities of the facility as to how far you can advance, obtain RNFA and other specialized training. Good luck! Hope you love it, it's a HUGE learning curve that will take a good chunk of time to get the hang of it, it's a whole different world but an awesome one!!

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