current cardiac nurse wanting to move to operating room or cath lab

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Specializes in Cardiac.

so I'm currently gaining experience on a cardiac floor. I would like to end up in the cath lab or operating room. I was told I need experience first before going into either specialty so I chose cardiac. how much experience do you think I will need before I can transfer? 

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

For the OR, the experience you're getting elsewhere isn't going to be putting you ahead. It may be a facility requirement/policy, but is not universal. My OR will happily take new grads, and the training they get is 100% identical to the training nurses with non-OR experience get. 

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Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

Cath Lab usually wants nurses with at least a year of ICU or ED experience.  More is better.  You might try speaking with the nurse manager of the Cath Lab, to find out what their requirements are.

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