Any OR nurse travelers out there?

[rbs105, ADN, MSN, RN]

Hi-

I have been an OR circulating nurse for 2 years and am learning how to scrub. I would like to travel in the next 2 years or so and am wondering if anyone can give me some advice on how to prepare more, what you would do differently or what you would recommend. I work at night in a level 1 trauma center and do transplants also. I do many services, mostly crani's, general, ortho and vascular (things typically associated w/trauma). We say that because of this, we are "jack of all trades-master of none". With this sort of background, can I survive travelling?

I feel it has given me great flexibility because I have this ability to "get through" anything-yet there is nothing I am extremely good at or knowledgeable of. I also don't do OB/GYN. I picked up a per diem job at another hospital giving breaks and lunches and that has been helpful because I can walk into any case, pick up where they are at, stay for 30 min. to give the nurse a break and go onto the next room. However, I am not sure I could survive doing the whole case, being in one room for the whole day!!

Any thoughts/advice on how to get to that point where I feel I am comfortable applying to travel would be helpful....thanks

rbs105

[Alisabeth, BSN, MSN, DNP]

I am also a nurse in the OR. I did my first travel assignment after having 15 months experience as an OR nurse in a Level 1 Trauma Center. I scrubbed, circulated, and specialized in neuro/ortho. I am now looking for my 2nd assignment. Most travel assignments require you to at least know how to scrub, so you will be fine. It's good to know how to do a little bit of evething. Working at a Level 1 Trauma Center you will be fine. Where are you looking to do your first assignment?

I was very nervous to start traveling, but it has been GREAT! I will never be a staff nurse again. Good luck! Let me know if you have any other questions. :nuke:

[rbs105, ADN, MSN, RN]

Thank you for your reply!! So let me ask...what happened when you did things other than neuro/ortho??? How/what did you do if they asked you to scrub vascular or circulate cardiac? Or was that just understood when you started that you didn't do those things and they were okay with it??

My husband has 1.5 years left of nursing school. Then I need to give him a year or so to get some experience, so it will still be awhile, but then we want to go somewhere for the summers with our kids (I am from UT so we would love to go there). I am going to take that time to learn how to scrub, circulate other services and get my CNOR. I am also going to continue working PRN at other facilities to increase what I can do. Thank you!!

rbs105

[RNERHOUSESUPOR]

Sounds like you have a great base to work with. I am on my 2nd winter assignment in Florida. I prefer to scrub in the CVOR but they help me out by putting me in other rooms to circulate. Keep learning, always do your best and keep the patients safe. You will do fine.

Rod