Further advancement

[kellyanne]

I am a 92 graduate of nursing school and have been working in the OR. Even when I was in school, my drive was focused on the operating room. I liked other aspects of nursing, but my heart lied there. with all this talk about job placement and status, I am afraid I have backed myself into a corner with choosing this specialty. How versed am I in this profession. I know there are always nursing postions, but they are floor nurses. At times I forget basic nursing skills, e.g cardiac rhythms. I am wondering if anyone else has felt this way or has any suggestions.

[TXERRN]

I hope you still check this site, considering the post was some months ago.

I just felt the same way recently. I decided that the ER wasn't the only way to be a nurse and just decided to go into the OR for a change of pace. However, I will continue to stay in the ER PRN to keep up my skills.

Why not consider the reverse? Get a job PRN on another unit, such as the ER or a med/surg floor, to strengthen your skills. Take an EKG class (most hospitals have them free of charge). You always have options.

Good luck!

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TX ER RN

[Cheryl Norwood]

Originally posted by kellyanne:

I am a 92 graduate of nursing school and have been working in the OR. Even when I was in school, my drive was focused on the operating room. I liked other aspects of nursing, but my heart lied there. with all this talk about job placement and status, I am afraid I have backed myself into a corner with choosing this specialty. How versed am I in this profession. I know there are always nursing postions, but they are floor nurses. At times I forget basic nursing skills, e.g cardiac rhythms. I am wondering if anyone else has felt this way or has any suggestions.

Kelly, Just a note of encouragement. I've been a OR nurse for 15 years and I'm still amazed every day at the new advances and technologies in surgery and medicine. Try learning how to scrub, it is always more interesting at the table than away from it. You can also look in RNFA, a new way for the nurse to truly become a assistant with the doctor. Also, try learning all areas of surgery. Alot of times nurses tend to focus on one area, you become very bored very quickly like this. You also are less flexible to the hospital. Learning new areas will enable you to be floated into all types of surgeries and rarely get board. You can also branch out and become a private scrub nurse for a surgeon . Very busy, exciting and interesting work. If you feel like your nursing skills are lacking, try becoming a prn nurse in the hospital pool and working 1-2 days a month on the floor. I think you will quickly remember why you got into OR nursing. Remember there are so many educational opportunities and classes you can take to keep your nursing skills up. Challange yourself with ACLS. Just some thoughts. Good Luck!

Cheryl