Are OR nurses in demand?

suzanne4, RN · Feb 7, 2006

Yes, there is demand, but I would look at having several years of experience before even considering travelling or even per diem agency in the OR. It will take you a good year just to feel comfortable in your facility, and that is with a complete orientation.

Doing a travel assignment, or even per diem agency, you may get two to three days to learn their system of basically where things are, how they do their charting, etc. But you need to be able to problem solve rapidly on your own, and be able to function in the rooms without any guidance at least in terms of how things are done.

SFCardiacRN · Feb 7, 2006

Please!!! get more experience before traveling. We will break contracts when given inexperienced OR RN's.

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Feb 7, 2006

I understand that I need a good year or two to be competent enough to travel.

I'd give it WAY more than a year or two....

RollingThunder · Feb 7, 2006

Thanks for the advice. I hope that I wasn't misunderstood, I am not looking to sign up with a company and hit the road as a green RN and make a fool out of myself. I actually think that I will probably stay right where I am for a very long time, I was just wondering if the prospects existed in this area as they do in many others. I'm actually laughing out loud thinking about you guys reading this and cringing while thinking of some D.A. newbie showing up at your facility ready to scrub in and kill somebody!

:roll

suzanne4, RN · Feb 8, 2006

We aren't laughing. Unfortunately, we have actually seen it too many times. Agencies in a hurry to place someone and not verifying their credentials and they are greener than green. Also happens in other areas, not just the OR.

There are some agencies out there that could care less about your license, only interested in filling shifts and getting paid.

nightingale, RN · Feb 8, 2006

I am a new nurse orientating in the OR. I understand that I need a good year or two to be competent enough to travel. Is the demand there for traveling OR nurses?

Good question... Yes... Big yes....

Following your dreams.... and let us know how we can help...

texastraveler · Feb 9, 2006

I am a new nurse orientating in the OR. I understand that I need a good year or two to be competent enough to travel. Is the demand there for traveling OR nurses?

Yes, OR nurses are in demand. I worked as an OR nurse for one year before I started traveling. I did not have any problems. It depends on the person and your comfort level. Everyone is different. In my opinion, you can work at the same place for 5 or 10 years and you will still learn alot of new ways of doing things when you start traveling. Every facility and especially doctors are different and have "their own special way of doing things"