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Hello Everyone,

I'm a newer RN, and just graduated May 10. I have been working med-surg since June 10 but every since nursing school I have been dying to get into OR nursing. No one is willing to train, and I can understand why. It takes a year or so to learn which = buckets of money. But it gets frustrating to see the same OR nurse jobs posted for months on end with no one to fill them because they want that 1 year or nursing experience. Even my current employer isn't willing to train and hires outside for OR. My question is to OR nurses. How did you get your 1st OR job? Was it through a periop 101 course or was someone willing to train? By the way I live in the NE. Any suggestions on landing in the OR would be greatly appreciated.

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Hi Skipbeat,

I am in a similar situation such as yours except I am coming from another specialty. I signed up for a periop 101 to help with the transition. Some hospitals offer OR fellowships which experienced and non-experienced nurses can sign up for. It is usually a one year long OR training program. Are you willing to relocate?

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I am willing to relocate, but it's been hard to find periop residency programs. It's almost like you have to check each hospital's job board to see if they offer one.

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I just graduated in Dec 2010 and got hired straight into the OR. I did take a periop course over the summer before I graduated, which I would say is what got my foot in the door. I got to know the people that worked there, learn about the OR, and show them that I was a hard worker. My OR preceptor advocated for me getting a job there big time and that helped tremendously. If there is a periop course somewhere near you, I would suggest taking it. Yes, you will be doing volunteer hrs that you don't get paid for, but if it's what you want bad enough, you will find it's worth it. I sure did. Best of luck!!!!

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Thanks Colleen,

I have found one program but it's not quite periop 101, and the second half is for someone who already has OR experience so they can become a first assist. I'm still trying the hospitals for their programs. Hopefully I will hear something soon. Congratulations by the way. I hope you are loving it!!

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Specializes in OR.

I started in the OR as a student, but my hospital is a teaching hospital and they are willing to hire new grads and nurses with no OR experience. If you live near any teaching hospitals, maybe you should check that out. All of our new nurses have to go through periop 101, which I found to be a huge help even though I had already been exposed to the OR before I became a nurse. Hopefully something pops up for you soon. Good luck!

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Thanks Lockheart

I just got an interview with a level one trauma center for an OR position that utilizes periop 101. I'm so excited!!:D

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