Ambulatory Surgical Center?

[Jen1228]

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i am a new rn grad, graduated in may, and have an interview on thursday at an ambulatory surgical center. i have applied for about 4 different jobs in the or or pacu but haven't gotten any call backs until now. i figured it was due to being a new grad and that these are hard areas to get into due to the low turnover rate. my resume clearly states that i just graduated, but they are still interested. i have always wanted to work in a perioperative setting, but thought i need lots of experience first.

any advice from other new grads or experienced nurses working in an asc? what is your typical day like? do you work more in the or or recovery room? what is your patient ratio? did the asc train you as far as instruments go, or were you expected to know it already? i am really excited at the opportunity. i would love to hear opinions or advice.

[Maudy]

Good for you! I can't answer your questions, but I'd like to hear some answers if someone responds. :)

I'm thinking I'll want to go into Ambulatory Surgery as well after I graduate. I have my preceptorship there, so that would help me.

[amberfnp]

I work for a plastic surgery ambulatory surgery center/office. We have 2 full OR's staffed by our own RNs and surgical techs and the local hospitals anesthesiologists rotate through.

THe RN's at our facility primarily work pre-op and 8 bed PACU and in the OR as circulator. They also work in the front office doing H&P's, consultations, and post-op/followup care, and minor surgical cases such as mole removals, scar revisions...We staff our PACU with 1-2 nurses depending on the patient load for the day.

Regarding instruments, we do not have a "central supply" like hospitals. We clean and prep our own instruments. Everyone pitches in so you learn what the instruments are by doing that. But usually the techs are the ones at the table. We have had the occasional RNs that have OR training and do assist/scrub but it is not the norm for us.

I think the newest RN we have had one year med-surg experience. Our clinical supervisor likes nurses with L&D or PACU experience.

[Larry in Florida]

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i am a new rn grad, graduated in may, and have an interview on thursday at an ambulatory surgical center. i have applied for about 4 different jobs in the or or pacu but haven't gotten any call backs until now. i figured it was due to being a new grad and that these are hard areas to get into due to the low turnover rate. my resume clearly states that i just graduated, but they are still interested. i have always wanted to work in a perioperative setting, but thought i need lots of experience first.

any advice from other new grads or experienced nurses working in an asc? what is your typical day like? do you work more in the or or recovery room? what is your patient ratio? did the asc train you as far as instruments go, or were you expected to know it already? i am really excited at the opportunity. i would love to hear opinions or advice.

just started 2 months ago in pre-op. love it!

paper work yes but starting lots of iv's. ekg's, assisting with blocks (orthopedic same day surgery ) etc, etc.

good luck!!

larry in florida