Calling all OR and PACU nurses...I need your imput

[cutenss, LVN]

I am a future nursing student (August '09), but also an Respiratory Therapist for the five years. I have worked in all medical areas of a hospital, including the Burn ICU, Medical ICU, Surgical ICU, ER, Peds, exposure to NICU. Not to mention med-surg and ortho floors. I also worked a travel RT for a short period of time. I know that I want to be an OR or possibly PACU nurse. Will my RT experience allow me to go into those areas as a new grad? The nursing program that I will be going through is a RT to RN program, that takes a year to complete. I have only worked in two hospitals, one being one of the BEST hospitals in the midwest. It is a teaching hospital. Both of the hospitals have level I trauma status. Should I get a part time or prn position as a tech in one of these areas to increase my knowledge or skills or...

I will be eternally grateful :bowingpur for any advice or help.

[azhiker96, BSN, RN]

OKay, here's my advice. Start volunteering or working as a tech in a PACU right now. This will allow you to see if you like them and for them to see you. You're experience managing airways is helpful but you'll have a steep learning curve with the medical management of your patients. I was a new grad hired into a PACU but that was after a year there as a volunteer and two years working as a tech while going to nursing school. I am also the only new grad they've ever hired.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

A good percentage of ORs have programs in place for new grads so it will probably be very easy to get a job in an OR, especially in a teaching hospital. PACU may be different. Some PACUs take new grads, some want you to have some critical care experience(ICU usually) beforehand. Do some research and see what hospitals in your area offer. Good luck!

[Babs0512]

You shouldn't have any problem getting into the OR - but the PACU is a critical care area where you should have ACLS, PALS certification. Being a circulating nurse in the OR is, sorry to say cause I'm gonna get flamed, but a no brainer. In my opinion, an RN doesn't need to be in that position. They help prep and position the patient, run for supplies, put orders in the computer, count with the scrub tech/nurse, etc... I've met several nurses in the OR who have never and I mean NEVER - had to assess a patient, listen to lung sounds, they can't read the cardiac monitors, so their purpose eludes me. The time or two I asked them for assistance with a patient who was "crumping", (I work PACU) they had absolutely no clue what to do.

I've sat through hours of OR cases and "chatted" with the circulating nurse while waiting for my patient, and they do nothing "nurse" like. A tech could easily do that position and the hospitals would save a bundle.

Don't flame me now, this is my experience and my opinion. I work with a PACU nurse who's spouse is a circulating RN, and he agrees with me!

Blessings