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Specialties Operating Room

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Hi everyone I'm in need of some serious advice. I'm a new grad and I have 2 job offers on the table one is an OR RN position that is 9 minutes away from my house. Indo their periop 101 and have to sign a 2 year contract after. It's at a small community hospital and after that I choose the schedule I wanna work. There's no weekends and no holidays. There will be on call at times. Then I have a pediatric RN position for a larger health system that is 25 minutes away from me. Is 3 12 hours shifts 7a to 7p and Every other weekend and some holidays. This position will train me in peds nicu and PICU and mother baby just in case I need to float over there if they bare short staffed but me floating there won't happen often since all the staff on my unit is on the floater schedule for that.  I did a site visit and the staff was amazing at both hospitals. The pay equals out to be the same. I guess as a new nurse I'm not sure what I'm getting into with either but I know I'm interested in both. Sometimes I also hear horror stories about the OR surgeons so that's a bit scary. I would love any advice anyone has to give. Thanks sooo much in advance 

0 Votes
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Have you had the opportunity to shadow for either? That can help with decision making.

5 Votes

I know the pediatric position wasn't interested in allowing a shadow day but I'll ask the periop director tomorrow. 

1 Votes
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Miss_Rose said:

 

I know the pediatric position wasn't interested in allowing a shadow day

 

This, to me, is at least a yellow flag if not a red flag. Is there something that they're trying to hide?

4 Votes
Rose_Queen said:

This, to me, is at least a yellow flag if not a red flag. Is there something that they're trying to hide?

Hmmmm I'm not sure. I'll definitely be asking again. I love peds but I also love the OR. I just want to make sure I don't get burned out with whichever I choose

2 Votes
Specializes in OMFS, Dentistry.

It really depends on what you like. OR is a different kind of nursing than floor nursing. If you're worried about burnout, I feel like floor nursing is a quicker burnout than OR (IMHO) only because you are caring for multiple patients at a time. The OR you are caring for one.  But everyone is different and wants different things in their career. 
 

I would try to shadow each. Then you'd really see where your heart lies. 
 

wishing you the best!

3 Votes

"I know the pediatric position wasn't interested in allowing a shadow day".

This is a red flag for me. I would ask why. 

Are you ready and able to interact with distraught parents? Will your 12 hour shifts turn into 16? Living so close to a hospital is a bonus if you're on call. Also, no weekends/holidays! Ultimately, only you can decide what is best for you. Good luck!

2 Votes
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Miss_Rose said:

Hmmmm I'm not sure. I'll definitely be asking again. I love peds but I also love the OR. I just want to make sure I don't get burned out with whichever I choose

Some feedback I've heard from some of the new grad residents: based on what they're hearing from their cohorts, they would never work anywhere else but the OR. Breaks and lunches are guaranteed, relief is 98% guaranteed on time (there are days one or two  volunteers to stay until their surgery is finished will be recruited)- they just feel like it's a better work life balance. 

3 Votes
Specializes in OMFS, Dentistry.
Rose_Queen said:

Some feedback I've heard from some of the new grad residents: based on what they're hearing from their cohorts, they would never work anywhere else but the OR. Breaks and lunches are guaranteed, relief is 98% guaranteed on time (there are days one or two  volunteers to stay until their surgery is finished will be recruited)- they just feel like it's a better work life balance. 

Couldn't agree with this more!! ?

2 Votes

Oh wow....thank you allll so much for this. This helps me alot. I've been reading that alot feom other nurses saying the same thing. I was afraid I was gonna lose some skills like and not learn some like inserting IV's etc that's why I was thinking about peds but I knew in the back of My mind peds I was gonna get burned out. They told me that when I went to do my site visit. But in the OR They want me to sign a contract for 2 years and that part scares me. 

0 Votes
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Miss_Rose said:

But in the OR They want me to sign a contract for 2 years and that part scares me. 

Look at the staff when you shadow- are they happy working there? How long is the orientation? If it's 6 months, right there is a quarter of the contract before you're even solo. 

2 Votes

LOL no they were smart about that. The 2 years doesn't start til after I finish my periop training but I will be paying attention to the staff and asking open ended questions to see what they spill 

1 Votes
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