Easier Transition: Floor to OR, or vice versa?

[Qtp2t RN]

Hello Everyone!

Let me preface this by telling you that I am a New Grad RN. I took up nursing school as a 2nd degree student (previous degree is a B.A. in Foreign Languages and International Business) after spending 4 years in sales, marketing, and project management. I graduated in September 2008 with my BSN and passed NCLEX in December.

I have been offered a position as a Perioperative RN, but am *hoping* to receive an offer for a floor nurse position, as well. I have longed to be an ER RN for years; however, that is just not going to happen at this moment and I am fine with that. I REALLY enjoyed my OR rotations during my schooling, but at this point in time, although I would like to spend part of my career in the OR, I do not see myself spending the entire duration of my career there.

So, on to my question. Which do you feel would be the easier transition: Floor to OR, or vice versa? I would imagine getting my skills down on the floor first would benefit me in the OR, but I would like the opinions of some experienced nurses.

TIA for your input.

~Cathy :heartbeat

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

The OR is very task oriented and it would be difficult to transition from there to anywhere else except surgeon's office or OR management. Med-surg experience will take you anywhere.

[Qtp2t RN]

Thank you for your reply, subee.

My biggest fear is that I would eventually decide that I wanted to be a floor nurse and would have difficulty transitioning, or even worse - difficulty in finding a NM willing to give me the opportunity to make that transition.

[ornurse88]

I'm an OR nurse and I love it. I would never leave the OR. I work with many nurses who have left the unit to come to the OR such as Emerg and vice versa. I feel that your skills that you learn in the OR would apply in any other unit such as your assessment skills, your organization skills, team work just to list a few. I do admit we don't give meds, so if you return to the unit you'll have to refresh on your meds and giving needles, but as i remember you study your meds the night before and landmark and you still gave it the next day. So I don't think it would be hard to refresh that skill. I also think that no matter what type of nurse you choose such as a med-surg nurse or ER or ICU...there's always will be a learning curve. Secondly, as a new grad you are in high demand and by that you can get a job anywhere like ICU places that required you to have several years experiences and additional schooling, but now they are desperate and will take anybody(at least in Calgary, Alberta CANADA). So if you decide the OR is not for you, I bet any unit would be happy to take you and the worst case is they will give you some additional training to get you going.

I'm bias. I think you should be an OR nurse and I bet you'll love it and if I'm wrong then I guess you be an ER nurse. Either way good luck with your career.