Want to get into the OR

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Hello. I am a new grad with only 6 months of experience in Med-Surg. Unfortunately, Med-Surg is not what I want to do and the OR has always been my dream. But, when I signed my contract with the hospital, I had to agree to stay with them for 2 years. I am trying to look for a per-diem or part time job in the OR to at least get me a foot in the door, but I cannot find any companies that are willing to take a new grad with no experience in the OR. Does anyone have any advice?

Will they allow transfers within the hospital, to the OR?

You will be hard pressed to find any per diem positions that will hire someone with no circulating experience. It would be to your detriment if you did accept a job in the OR without some lengthy orientation. So much so, that you may end up hating the OR too.

Good luck

They accept transfers within the hospital, but it says you need at least 1-2 years experience in the OR. I am at a loss of what to do.

They accept transfers within the hospital, but it says you need at least 1-2 years experience in the OR. I am at a loss of what to do.

How big of an OR do you have? Chances are they have open positions that they want filled now with experienced RNs, but could have plans to hire a group to start a fellowship or residency...

You mentioned in your OP that the OR has always been your dream... Did you ever apply to the OR before taking the job in MS? if not, why not? If yes, why didn't you get the job?

Regardless, if you haven't already, I'd stop by and speak to the OR Manager and introduce yourself. Be prepared to answer the same question I pose above and to maybe articulate why the "OR is your dream." I would also ask for a chance to shadow a nurse on your day off.

The hospital I work in has 17 operating rooms. I applied for the OR and the nursing residency for the hospital at the same time, but the nursing residency program called me back first. The OR never called me back. The nursing residency said they did not have rotations to the OR at this time, so I was out of luck. I was finally placed on my permanent med-surg floor a couple of months ago. As of right now, there is only 1 opening for the OR that requires experience, but I plan on speaking to the manager in there and see how it goes.

I was in your shoes when I transferred into the OR. I started in medsurg as a new grad. Signed a 3 year contract with the hospital system for their residency program. I hated medsurg and knew floor nursing wasn't for me. At 1 year, we were allowed to apply to other units in the hospital. I started applying and applied to our OR. They also wanted experience but I was called for an interview anyways. I found that although the OR is totally different than medsurg, I was able to draw on a lot of my floor experience during the interview. I got the job and have been in the OR for about 9 months now. I love it! Keep applying!! And if you can make friends with someone in the department that'll help exponentially! I've found periop is a super close specialty, and all the nurses from preop, pacu, and OR talk!

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