A Quick OR Question:

I had a quick question...I'm finishing my last year of my BSN and I was wondering if, when hired as an OR nurse (which is a HUGE interest of mine), do you ever have to rotate out to PACU/PreOp or is there a separate pool for that?

Thanks all!

Mike

Where I work, you either work OR, PACU or PreOp. There isn't a rotation or anything, you work one place or the other.

Most bigger hospitals have distinct teams- pre-op/ ambulatory dept nurses, OR nurses, and PACU nurses who have some ICU experience first. Some hospitals consider holding part of the OR others part of pre-op, ASU. Some use either a pre-op unit or a holding area but not both. (as a pt, I hate that arrangement)

I have worked in and seen smaller hospitals with one or a couple ORs where there might be no ASU and OR nurses also rotate through PACU or flat-out recover their own.

We have some nurses that are cross-trained, but that was what those particular nurses wanted to do, not required.

I had a quick question...I'm finishing my last year of my BSN and I was wondering if, when hired as an OR nurse (which is a HUGE interest of mine), do you ever have to rotate out to PACU/PreOp or is there a separate pool for that?

Thanks all!

Mike

i have been an OR nurse for 8 yrs and all u gotta do is make ur application saying u wanna work OR!and that's it

Where I work, you either work OR, PACU or PreOp. There isn't a rotation or anything, you work one place or the other.

Ditto

At my place, OR nurses do not float to PACU or Pre-An.

You will also come to learn that usually there is no such thing as a "quick OR question"!!!

In my experience it is a very rare for an OR nurse to cover PACU, pre-op ASU. Everyone is so specialized now that even OR nurses are on a "team". Neuro, open hearts, ortho, transplant, etc..

it is always good to know everyone role in in the operative setting, that way you know how the other nurse feels, and you get a sense that everyone's job is as importmant as the next. from housekeeping up to thhe crna's. one job can not preform without the other.

I had a quick question...I'm finishing my last year of my BSN and I was wondering if, when hired as an OR nurse (which is a HUGE interest of mine), do you ever have to rotate out to PACU/PreOp or is there a separate pool for that?

Thanks all!

Mike

Mike, OR nurses usually only work in the OR. Some do cross train to work in PACU for overtime. They are totally seperate nursing areas. If your interested in CRNA working in both areas is very helpful and the critical care nursing in PACU gives you your pre-requisite for anesthesia schools.

good luck

Nancy