Contemplating the OR

YES!! Usually rural OR's do limited procedures, it's much easier to teach someone a dozen or so rather then hundreds. I started out in a 2 OR 25 bed hospital.... Good luck!!

Apply! I just interviewed today for a position in cardiac surgery. I have only 1.5 years experience in rehab and LTC! No acute care at all, only a clinical 2 years ago on cardiac telemetry unit. The manager interviewing me said that working in surgery is very different from "floor nursing" so prior experience doesn't really matter. They have an extensive orientation period where they teach you all you need to worry about. I think a future employer will just be concerned about you being a good employee for them - tardiness, absenteeism, negative attitude, team player - that sort of thing. Go for it!

Yes,I agree, just apply. I have 11 years experience, 7 in LTC and 4 in clinical OB/GYN. So basicaly, I'm an old nurse with no skills. It had been 8 years since I placed an IV and I asked our O.R. director if I could come check it out just to see if it would be something I'd like, and could I get in some I.V. practice. She told me "Well, sure! Come do pre and post-op for a while, every one gets an I.V. there". I have been going every Thursday since the middle of January. She asked me to take an official position the end of March! Im nervouse and excited every day. It's like being a brand new nurse all over again. And our O.R. has a pretty extensive orientation program too. She said if I neede 6 months to take 6 months. So, I say go for it! and good luck!

So this being a completely different hospital, how should I approach this- should I ask the nurse recruiter if I can shadow in the OR? Is it wrong to ask what their benefits are, as I am willing to work for cheaper to have a better job, but if its too much difference, I just need to know ? It seems there were more opportunities to "shadow" when I was a new grad. I don;t want to look like a you know what :-) But I also want to make a good educated decision.The last move I made really didnt work out and I had thought for sure it would have. I felt like a complete you know what.......

btw thanks for your infos guys

Definitely talk with the hospital's nurse recruiter. She (or he!) can arrange for you to shadow, they'll explain wage and benefits - it is no secret only told to those that are hired, that is what their job is all about.

Good luck and keep us posted! You might want to join the AORN,

great website, ceus and journal. Lots of good info there

and they have a mentoring program as well.

www.aorn.org

Thank You!!

Glad to see that there are other folks who are considering changing fields. Mortimer your post was especially encouraging. I too am an "old nurse with no skills". I had never thought of the shadowing and the IV practice....wow...that would boost my confidence like crazy.

need advice....was scrub tech for 10yrs before rn school, should i apply for o.r. nursing or would it be more beneficial to be a different nurse first and come back? ... experience in o.r. nurses pls help me!! some rns have said techs will b great as o.r. nurses, but do i need experience elsewhere or go with what i know...not to mention im in the 40 and over crew :-)

If you want to work in the OR, just go for it. No need to get other experience first, unless you have a desire to work in some other specialty. And even if you decide to go right for the OR, you can always do something else later on if you so choose. Go for it!! Experience as a scrub tech should set you apart from other applicants for any OR positions...good luck!