Anyone with OR travel nurse experience?

suzanne4, RN · Jan 20, 2008

The places that I have done OR at have wanted at least five years of experience and the ability to cover all services. The more experience, the better that it is for you.

You do not get much of an orientation, usually just a day or two to where things are, and sometimes have not even gotten that. You are expected to be able to just jump in as if you have been there for years.

Can you be more specific as to what type of information that you are looking for?

Gottago · Jan 21, 2008

The places that I have done OR at have wanted at least five years of experience and the ability to cover all services. The more experience, the better that it is for you.
You do not get much of an orientation, usually just a day or two to where things are, and sometimes have not even gotten that. You are expected to be able to just jump in as if you have been there for years.
Can you be more specific as to what type of information that you are looking for?

Initially, I didn't have any specific questions in mind. I was just trying to get a general feel for OR travel nursing.

This is the first time I have come across a thread saying five years experience was needed.

I am wondering if you scrubbed or circulated? (I'm betting you'll probably say both.) What would you say the majority of places wanted: scrub or circulate? I haven't come across many new nurses who have been trained to scrub & circulate. Seems the trend for RN's is towards circulating.

Also, what OR areas are most in demand (ortho, general, etc.)?

I've read that some states don't require an RN to be in the OR. This sounds like the choices of states for OR travel nursing would be limited. Is this true?

Thanks for replying.

suzanne4, RN · Jan 21, 2008

All states require an RN in the OR; we keep seeing of some facilities trying to put one RN between two rooms but that does not fly and is not acceptable.

What the requirements are of a specific facility depends on the type of facility as well as their immediate needs. The places that I have been to have all wanted heavy neuro and CVICU experience because that was their specialties.

Smaller facilities and they may not do anything like that. You see facilities that want the RN that can scrub and circulate, and others just want a circulator. Depends on if they use all RN teams or RN and CST.

It used to be that OR orientation took a full-year or at least 9 months, now you are seeing people put thru in just a few months so they do not always have enough experience in all areas. When a facility has a need, it may be because they have just hired a replacement for someone, but they need to go thru the full OR orientation before they can be counted as an RN on that shift, so the facility will bring in a travel nurse to have the required amount of staff and they are expected to be able to function in most areas. I have seen facilities be happy with two years of heavy OR experience, and then others want to see more, alot has to do with the training that the nurse had and their work experiences. The more experience, the wider the job opportunities.

Gottago · Jan 21, 2008

All states require an RN in the OR; we keep seeing of some facilities trying to put one RN between two rooms but that does not fly and is not acceptable.
What the requirements are of a specific facility depends on the type of facility as well as their immediate needs. The places that I have been to have all wanted heavy neuro and CVICU experience because that was their specialties.
Smaller facilities and they may not do anything like that. You see facilities that want the RN that can scrub and circulate, and others just want a circulator. Depends on if they use all RN teams or RN and CST.
It used to be that OR orientation took a full-year or at least 9 months, now you are seeing people put thru in just a few months so they do not always have enough experience in all areas. When a facility has a need, it may be because they have just hired a replacement for someone, but they need to go thru the full OR orientation before they can be counted as an RN on that shift, so the facility will bring in a travel nurse to have the required amount of staff and they are expected to be able to function in most areas. I have seen facilities be happy with two years of heavy OR experience, and then others want to see more, alot has to do with the training that the nurse had and their work experiences. The more experience, the wider the job opportunities.

Again, thanks for the reply.

I've read that ER, ICU, and OR are areas which are most often in demand for travel nurses. Do you find this to be true?

My facility does not offer neuro, but all the nurses circulate throughout other areas.

Thanks.

suzanne4, RN · Jan 21, 2008

Yes I do, but things go in cycles as well. Sometimes more OR over anything else, and other times can't find much at all.

Also comes down to the location of the facility and if they have seasonal increases in population in the area so they have more of a need at certain times of the year. Other facilities may have a very steady staff but then have someone out on medical or pregnancy leave and they need someone to fill in right away.

You also tend to see more one month contracts for the OR than many other specialty for this very reason.

RNERHOUSESUPOR · Jan 27, 2008

I am on my second OR assignment. Have traveled to South Florida for the past two winters. I have the opprotunity to work in the CVOR and really enjoy it. Specialty OR nursing is in a bit more demand at times. Trying to go General OR on a travel assignment would be difficult for me but I know others that are very comfortable with it. A lot of experience is dependant on attitude. If you are not confident in your skills then no number of years of experience can make you comfortable.