Does OR nurse get paid more than Med/Surg Nurse?

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 9, 2012

Yes, OR nurses can make more than med/Surg nurses, but they will have the same base pay at most facilities. The difference is between the on-call pay ($2/hr for me) and call-back pay (1.5x base salary, minimum 2 hrs guaranteed). Only you can decide whether being an OR nurse is worthwhile. No one else can make that decision for you. I'll tell you that being an OR nurse is worth it, but I happen to be a little biased. To help you decide, shadow an OR nurse for a few days. Pay attention to what the nurse is doing. One of my pet peeves is that people shading will focus entirely on the surgery and ignore what the nurse is doing and responsible for. Then they are completely shocked when they begin working with us. So shadow a nurse, not a surgery.

lockheart678 · Apr 9, 2012

In my hospital, OR nurses make a little more than medical-surgical nurses based on a loophole that our management found. Plus, that call pay can add up if you need extra money. Remember, when you get called in while in the OR, you could get out there and go home a couple of hours later. I've even had a few times where I get all the way out there, clock in, and am immediately told they don't need me after all, and I still get paid as if I worked 2 hours. In all the time I've been doing this, I can count on one hand the number of times I've spent almost my entire call shift out because things got a little crazy in the city, and we got slammed. Most of the time, that doesn't happen, though.

ORoxyO · Apr 10, 2012

We get paid the base pay as everyone else. However, there is special pay if you stay late even when under 40 hours. We also have more OT than anyone wants and are never sent home due to low census.

sandiegojames · Apr 16, 2012

Nothing in medicine is worth it simply for the money. OR nurses or specialty nurses usually have the same base rate but plenty of opportunity to make extra for call pay. The heart and transplant teams in our OR are on call 50% of the time, so pick up about $17,000 a year just for carrying the pager. Then make more if they are called for a case. But make no mistake; you work for it.

RNOTODAY, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2019

In the three facilities I've worked in, Yes, the OR did get a higher rate than the rest of the nurses in the hospital. Besides the higher rate, Generally, the reason OR nurses make more money is basically due to the call that is required of us; plus, in every OR I've worked in, there was PLENTY of overtime to be had if you were interested. I was ALWAYS interested.

ds3000 · Jan 23, 2019

OR nurses, where I work, get the same base rate as everyone else but have a $12500 yearly differential added on.

FurBabyMom, MSN, RN · Jan 27, 2019

OR RNs in my system make more across all levels (clin 1, clin 2, clin 3, clin 4) than our floor, ICU, and ED counterparts (those groups make more than clinic nursing staff). We have three OR settings- a surgery center, a community hospital, and a trauma center - each of those is different, with the highest pay rates. It's a significant difference of several dollars per hour over our counterparts in any other setting.

In addition to a higher base rate, we are paid our system's ordinary evening, night, and weekend differentials. We are paid to be on call, even though we might be sitting at home (currently 10% of our hourly wage, so someone making $30/hr would get $3/hour on call). If we're called in, we get travel time plus two hours or guaranteed pay just for clocking in - even if we're sent home 10 minutes later.

There are some negatives, though, like being unable to leave to get lunch, a snack, or run to the bathroom without being relieved by someone else (unlike the floor where I could keep an eye on your patients so you can grab lunch). If they call you in overnight or on the weekend, there may not be staff to get people out for breaks (or you might get forgotten by accident). In your case, it can also be a terrible time to get lunch or a break, and you may not be able to leave. If "too many" rooms are running when you are scheduled to leave, you can't just leave...you have to wait to be relieved.

In my facility - the floor, ICU, and ED RNs (and nursing staff - NAs, CSTs, etc.) are capped at 60 hours of work per 7-day period. Any guesses as to who doesn't apply? Periop, specifically the OR. I've had more than a few weeks where I've worked or been on call 7/7 days a week. I've had horrible weeks at work and then been on call the following three or four days of a holiday weekend. I've worked 25+ hours in 30 hours.

tricianurse68 · Jul 27, 2019

Yes, more money based on experience in the OR but even more of you take calls. 2.50 for just being on Cal and time and a half when you get called in. Also, unlike other comments, we get 2 hours min even if we get sent home after we clock in. I have only worked 22 hours in a row one time. At my other hospital, we made $1 more. We are one of the three most critical areas, along with ER and ICU. But the perks are you only have one patient, and they are asleep Cirdicy of anesthesia! OR is not for everybody, but most nurses go there to rest till retirement.

pjlovesnursing, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2019

OR nurses in my system make the same base rate as they call it "a lateral transition" if you are moving from the ED to the OR or any other specialty. We do take calls, but they are not that bad. 4-5 calls are required per month (50% weekend, 50%weekday + half is 1st call and half is 2nd call.... I get everything done in a single weekend), the call shifts are only 8 hours long, and you get paid $3/hour while waiting at home. There is an excessive call pay if you sign up for 20+ hours of call per month. Pay is a time and a half if you are called in. I am never sent home due to low census because I work for an extensive trauma center. If the charge nurse asks you to stay past your shift, you get paid time and a half for the hours worked after your shift. The call pay is time and half for 3 hours guarantee even if you came in and worked for 1 hour or were sent home because the case got canceled for some reason.

The people from the liver transplant team get paid more, but they take more calls as well, and it's hard to get into the team because the pay is good, and nobody ever leaves. I worked at another facility where the cardiac and transplant teams were paid a particular base rate. These are the rules at my facility; I am sure it changes across the board everywhere. I am happy in the OR and can't complain because I work with an excellent team.