Bored with circulating

Hey all!

I have been a nurse for about a year now. I went straight to the OR out of school. At first I liked it. It involved a huge learning curve with ups and downs. However, I have always had this feeling that I am basically a gopher in the OR! I always feel that the CRNA is the head nurse in the room, and I'm basically just running around getting things. The surgeries can get pretty long and I have nothing to do sometimes. I have thought long and hard about this and I really just don't feel like this is the place for me. I want to interact with patients more and utilize the information I learned and busted my booty for in school. Things like lab values and even certain meds are slowly slipping away because I don't use that info ever! I basically have no experience right now, and I'm afraid that I won't be able to get hired because of that. Has anyone ever been in a position like this?

Also, everything that I just said about circulating is based on me personally. I know so many that absolutely love it and it's perfect for them. Just not for me. Please, do not take offense.

People get bored and change specialties all the time. Instead of being afraid that you won't get hired, start applying and see who calls back.

I wish you the best of luck! I am starting out in the OR too and although I'm enchanted with the speciality I'm also pretty certain I'd like to change specialties someday. If you think of it, keep us posted on your progress. It would be great to have some insight as to what it takes to make the leap from OR.

You may have more luck than you'd think. I know someone who was an OR Nurse for 2 years. She is now working on our hospital's CVICU, which is regarded as a premier cardiovascular surgical center in the nation. Initially, she had felt like she'd lost some of her skills but she regained them and is now off orientation.