Advance career as an OR nurse

[hayleyrich]

Hey all,

I just got 2 new grad residency offers. One is in the OR and the other is the Intermediate Care Unit. The residency requires a 2 year contract. I am interested in getting my FNP or CRNA. More specific, I am interested in becoming a surgical nurse practitioner. 

In order to apply for those programs, my understanding is most schools require 1 to 2 years of critical care experience? 

Let me just say, I love surgery. I have done some shadowing with surgeries and found it really exciting. But I know the IMC will help me develop my nursing skills and be a place where I can create a good foundation. My fear is that the OR will "pigeon hole" me and I will not be able to advance my career as seamlessly than it would if I took the IMC position. 

As far as a Master's program, I am not sure if I should start in the OR or the IMC. Is it necessary to get critical care experience before applying to NP schools? 

What would you do?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Critical care experience is not necessary for all NP programs. However, it is for a CRNA program. I think first you need to decide which of those two routes you want to go. I have worked with OR nurses who have moved on to either other specialties (including ICU) or to advanced practice roles (with a side trip to ICU first for the CRNA role).