BSN student: OR rotation next semester, pros and cons?

[Nurse2bViolinist]

I'm about to finish up my first semester of nursing school and am looking forward to the fall where we will have med-surg rotations. All students usually get 1 OR rotation, although I have heard that sometimes students get more than that if the clinical instructor deems them ready for it/if the student is particularly interested in that area.

I have heard from some that the OR is "boring" but I personally am interested. I also don't want to base my interest off one OR experience....that doesn't seem like enough to determine if it's an area I like! If I volunteer for our Saturday clinical there's a chance the instructor in charge of that day will give me more OR opportunities if I express interest.

Pros and cons to OR? Should I pursue this avenue if my interest is piqued?? I'm wondering why it seems like a lot of people think it's boring. I had major surgery at age 13 and that started my fascination with the medical world. (I was even the person who, several years later, googled my particular surgery and found a video of it and watched it! I found it awe-inspiring and interesting.)

Thanks in advance! :)

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

The problem with your plan is that scheduled surgeries are Monday-Friday. Only surgeries on Saturdays are emergency surgeries. So, unless you are doing your clinical at a trauma center, there will be very little surgeries to watch on Saturday.

[Nurse2bViolinist]

I was told by a student who's on Saturdays right now that she's gotten to do several OR rotations, more than students normally get. So that's why I mentioned the Saturday thing (because they are taking volunteers for weekends and I'm debating whether it's worth my while to volunteer).

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

The purpose of the OR rotation is for you to see what happens to a patient during surgery so that you can have an idea of how to take better care of them when they are back on the Med/Surg. floor. Monday- Friday you could potentially see 3-4 scheduled surgeries with the choice of different types of surgeries and Saturday you could see 1-2 emergency surgeries with no choice of surgeries. While you may be able to do 2 OR rotations on Saturdays, there may not be very many surgeries for you to watch.

If your reason for wanting to have 2 OR rotations is to see if Surgery is an interest for you as a career, it is unlikely that you will get a position in Surgery as a new grad.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

If your reason for wanting to have 2 OR rotations is to see if Surgery is an interest for you as a career, it is unlikely that you will get a position in Surgery as a new grad.

That isn't necessarily true. A lot of hospitals in my area hire new grads. In fact, my manager likes to hire new grads.

OP, some people do think surgery is boring, especially since you are just observing and aren't allowed to do anything. That doesn't mean that it is though. The OR is awesome!

[sneed1o1, BSN, RN]

I agree with springchick1. My hiring manager said she prefers to hire new grads because it's easier to teach a new mind than a seasoned one. Her reasoning was that she saw a lot of seasoned nurses being trapped in their habits which made it difficult for them to learn new habits, especially with OR being it's own unique specialty. I've also had other nurses tell me to gain floor experience first for at least two years. There are pros and cons to both ways. It just depends on the hiring manager. I start next month, so it's exciting to see your enthusiasm!