Beginning Periop course

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Hello All,

I have learned so much from this site, it has given me a clear idea of where I want to be in nursing, and what it will take to get there.

I am an RN now, passed the NCLEX in June. Due to also being a parent, I chose not to take a job right away and took the summer off to be with my kids after the stress of nursing school. I was up for an internship in September, but that didn't work out. After researching here, I am sure of my desire to be an OR nurse so I am off to a Perioperative course in Sept. I was an A student in nursing school, and I know how to study. My nursing school was very good, we had a lot of clinical time, which is why I know that while I can do bedside nursing, I just prefer not to.

I am doing this Periop course on my own dime, and it's out of state and pricey, so I would welcome any advice/ opinions from those who have either done it before or experienced nurses who want to pass along any do's / don'ts. To complicate matters, I have chosen to super specialize in pediatric surgery.

I am not a young'un. This is a second career and my first one was also with the public so I have a thick skin. I would just like to get as much out of this course as I can, so any advice is welcome.

Thanks again for all of the help.

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I'm interested in periop as well. A question to you FlyOR, where is it that you can just sign up for perip training? I have researched and found internships, but I've not heard of a course that you can just walk into and choose a specialty. Sounds interesting!

I also wish you luck in your course and hope that you do well!

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They are not plentiful, as far as I can see. The way that I found out about mine was through the internship that I was interested in. They use this college. After the internship was over you owed the hospital three years, and that was a big committment to me, so I started looking for other ways to get there. It's out of my own pocket, but I won't owe anyone afterward. Of course, I am also gambling that I will get a job too.

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Hi FlyOR,

I could have written your original post. I am in the exact same situation.

2nd career, graduated in May, passed the NCLEX, took the summer of to be with my son and having a hard time now getting a job (Boston area).

As my goal is to get to the OR, I am taking a Peri-op course starting in Feb (on my own dime)

I am dying to know how it is going for you, and if you don't mind any advice on what I can study ahead of time.

Thanks,

Kerry

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Hi Kerry,

I am going to get back to you, since I really can't comment yet. I will tell you that the material is fascinating and different from nursing school. The class environment is vastly different, since it's all experienced RNs and we're treated as professionals. Being the only new RN in the bunch is very disconcerting. The class finishes Dec 15th, and I'll post my thoughts and humble opinions then.

FlyOR

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Thanks FlyOR, I look forward to hearing from you

Good luck with the rest of the course.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Tele, ICU/CCU, GE Lab.

Try this website http://www.aorn.org If you look under education, periop 101, view the demo. It's pretty interesting.

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Hi Kerry123,

I am also a new grad in Mass considering a periop certification course on my own dime .... how did it go? Do you recommend the program?

Thanks for any advice,

ddb19

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Specializes in Operating room..

I have taken the peri-op course and thought it was great. However, I really think that it would not have been as useful to me if I hadn't also been working in the OR. Seeing/doing what I was learning made it all come together. Some stuff just would not have made sense to me without actually doing what I was learning. Just my 2 cents.

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Hi I am a foreign trained nurse with US licensure and I am interested doing perioperative nursing if I can find a schoo; that offers the training.

Can anyone help me?

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

I have done a perio op post graduate diploma as well as a hospital run course as well.

My advice to you all is to borrow/purchase Alexanders care of the patient in surgery. This book was and still is a valuable resouce. Also familiarise yourself with ACORN/AORN standards and any legislation that relates to the periop area.

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ddb19,

I had a tough experience with my course, mainly because of a lack of communication between the head of the periop program and the clinical educator at the hospital that I did my clinical at, I think my experience was atypical. The course did not result in a job offer which I had really hoped for, apparently ours was the first class of students that the majority of us were not hired (because of the economy).

I paid a lot of money $4000, and did not get a job and it was an extremely stressful experience. That said, it is credits toward a future RN to BSN program, I learned a lot, I still love surgery and it is still my end goal to become a OR nurse. I just recently found a job (finally!!) at an assisted living facility. I plan to work a few years getting comfortable in the role of being an RN, then try again to get into an OR.

In addition to Alexander's Care of the patient in Surgery, I would get a book on Surgical tools and begin to familiarize yourself.

good luck, keep us posted :)

Kerry

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