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Discussion

From the OR to the ICU

I've been working in the OR (non-trauma) for a few years now-I went there as a GN. I was an LPN for about 5 years and worked at a Veterans hospital on a med/surg hem/oc floor for just about all those years.

I don't really enjoy OR nursing-it isn't challenging enough for me...I feel like my brain is dying!!

Before I graduated nursing school, I thought about working in the ICU, but couldn't get hired...'you really should work on a floor first...' is what I kept hearing. I already did just shy of 5 years of floor nursing-yes, I was an LPN, but at a veterans hospital, LPNs can earn 'steps' and be 'certified' to do certain things...I inserted PICC lines for pete's sake...I was offered a job in the OR and I took it. Like I said earlier, I already had worked on a floor and really didn't want to do it again (even as an RN this time around).

Now I'm finishing by BSN (done in April 09) and want to stretch my wings so to speak. No, I'm not interested in becoming a CRNA at the present-I ultimately want to teach. In my head, I think I'd be a good, maybe even a great critical care nurse, but I'm not sure because I suffer from anxiety and the occassional panic attack.

I've lost so many great nursing skill sets because I do not utilize them in the OR (anesthesia plays with all the tubes and meds :(). I can 'read' an EKG rhythm strip and I understand physiology. I've contacted the Nurse Manager of the ICU at the facility I currently work at, but she is convinced that I want to be a CRNA because I work in the OR; :banghead: but I've got to get out of the OR very soon or else I'll become a dust bunny there!!

Any advice from the wonderful critical care nurses on this forum would be very much appreciated!!:bow:

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Can you interview at another hospital? I am sure you could get another manager to hire you, or go to a different ICU. You seem to have good experience. It would be hard since you have been doing something so different, but I think you could do it. If you are bored in the OR then ICU would be a good place to learn new skills and stay on your toes. Just keep trying because I'm sure you can be a great ICU nurse!

I too worked in the OR prior to becoming a critical care nurse. I was very upfront with my manager on my intentions on why I wanted to come to critical care (to be a CRNA). I understand this may not be the case with you, but I felt as if I the longer I stayed in the OR, the more nursing skill and knowledge that I would lose...let me rephrase...I wasn't using skills such as my nursing judgement, nor did I feel as if was being challenged enough for all the education that I had acquired over the years to be a RN. Is there only one ICU in your hospital or do you have a SICU, MICU or CCU? If so, don't just limit yourself to the 1 icu. I agree with the previous poster...perhaps consider switching to another hospital that believes in giving you an opportunity. Have you considered doing an internship..that may give you a refresher on your skills as well as a little longer orientation?

  • Author

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it!

I am getting ready in a few weeks to do a 140 hour clinical in a SICU at a level 1 trauma center-which is right next door to the facility that I work at now. Most likely I am going to apply to work on that unit after I finish my BSN in April...I was really hoping to stay at my current facility because the bene's are just soooooo good and I don't want to lose my seniority, but that's life I suppose:confused:

Again, thanks for the input!!!

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