I'm going into my third year of school and I'm interested in the OR when I graduate. Over this Summer, I reached out and was able to shadow a RN in one of the bigger ORs in my area! The experience confirmed to me that this is the direction I would like to go when I graduate. They were extremely welcoming, told me they hire new grads, and encouraged me to apply for the next upcoming externship.
I also work as a per diem nursing assistant and was advised that I shouldn't apply for an OR position right out of school. Instead I was encouraged to do a year of med surg nursing first.
Is that sound advice? I'm a 50 year old student and this is a second career for me. I know what I want to do and at my age would like to take the most direct route. However, if it would be beneficial to work med surg first I would. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Specializes in Operating room nurse/educator - Neurosurgery.
Agree with the above. I am an operating room nurse of 20+ years and RNFA in neurosurgery, ortho/spine/ Level I trauma. Go directly to the OR. The OR is a totally different specialty and you will need to train in this specialty for at least 4-6 months depending on the OR specialty you go into. There are many sub-specialties to include: burns/oculoplasty/urology/ transplant/spine/brain/trauma/general - and many more specialties you probably have not heard about. I recommend working at at teaching hospital as well and/or Level I trauma center. Skip the med-surg thing. ER would be a better fit.
Specializes in ICU, Trauma, CCT,Emergency, Flight, OR Nursing.
Sounds like you are well on the correct track to getting an OR job when you graduate. I agree with all the sound advice our colleagues have given above. I would also highly encourage you to get into a hospital and peri-op program where you learn to scrub. Many of the hospitals out west now are requiring RNs to scrub and it will definitely put you in a great advantage if you are able to and make your job a whole lot more interesting and fun. Best of luck on your journey.
I was able to find a job in the OR right out of nursing school, the funny thing about the OR is that you didn’t learn much about it at all in school. So at my hospital the standard orientation is 6 months long, we’re also a level 2 facility, but it’s because there’s so many surgeries and aspects of procedures to learn that they give you plenty of time to learn. I’d say it was a whole year though before I felt completely comfortable. You don’t have to do the “requirement” of a year in med/surg if anything it might be harder for you to transfer to your desired unit. It’s a different type of nursing but I love it.
Athabascan, BSN, MSN
11 Posts
Agree with the above. I am an operating room nurse of 20+ years and RNFA in neurosurgery, ortho/spine/ Level I trauma. Go directly to the OR. The OR is a totally different specialty and you will need to train in this specialty for at least 4-6 months depending on the OR specialty you go into. There are many sub-specialties to include: burns/oculoplasty/urology/ transplant/spine/brain/trauma/general - and many more specialties you probably have not heard about. I recommend working at at teaching hospital as well and/or Level I trauma center. Skip the med-surg thing. ER would be a better fit.