Leaving the ER for the OR

julezzz26 · Jul 20, 2008

could you stay prn at the er job? that way you could stay in their system and pick up a shift here and there if you wanted.

loricatus · Jul 20, 2008

Just went from the ER level I to PACU at a private surgery center. Although I find myself bored, the hours are as you describe, I am a lot less stressed out, have more energy & am actually starting to have a real life again. However, I do pick up agency ER shifts on some weekends to keep in touch & not lose my ER skills. As for circulating, I don't think you would be as bored as I am in the PACU.

It has only been a few weeks for me, but I feel this is probably going to work out in the long run. Also, knowing that the pay higher, makes me feel better about the boredom-I don't think the place where I work has ever been so clean & disinfected because I feel guilty about sitting around in between patients, collecting the ridiculously higher salary! I am sure you can find things to keep you busy, also.

nurseinlimbo · Jul 20, 2008

Circulating can be slow paced with bursts of activity if there is a complication or something doesn't work the way they want. Do you have the option to learn to scrub in as well? This might keep it more interesting for you and is good experience. I personally enjoyed the plastics rotation in my OR course/orientation the most, generally because the patients are happy to be there (for the most part), the docs are happy because they make mega bucks and since most of their surgeries are elective they can come and go as they please on vacations etc. and they aren't as hard on their nurses as some other specialties can have a tendency to be. The surgeries are generally routine, unless you are doing reparative work or skin grafting etc. and are usually fairly straightforward.

Also, I don't know what it's like there, but the private clinic nurses here are bonused with vacations to Mexico, Hawaii, etc. etc. I'd love to get that sweet deal!!!

Spiker, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 20, 2008

Hi everyone!! I graduated nursing school in 05 and started an internship in the ER where I have happily worked ever since. It was a long tough road to feel confident with the ER, lots of ups and downs and I definitely learned SO SO much. I love the ER through and through, BUT, because of the low low pay and hours, I started to look elsewhere and recently received a job offer at a plastic surgery center. The job is for a circulating nurse in the OR. The hours are M-F 830 to 5 (great for a mom with two little ones), no weekends, no holidays (again, awesome for moms), and the pay is ridiculous....oh and they also pay my health insurance. I have gone from 24.00 and hour to 32.00 which is going to be about a 15000/yr pay increase. So here is my dilemma, I feel like I would be a fool to pass this up, but at the same time I worry that I am going to be bored out of my mind and I know right now I am going to miss my friends terribly. Does anyone out there ave any experiences with surgery centers?? Can anyone give me some thoughts? advice?

I left a busy medical center OR for a private surgery center postion. Unlike you, I took a couple of dollars pay cut. However, it was worth it...this was 6 years ago, when I turned 50. The weekend & night call was exhausting me (you still had to report for your regular shift, even after being up all night doing trauma or what have you). Many times I was run ragged, especially in a level 2 trauma center. The patients were often at death's door, needing a lot of intense care. I was never bored. I spent a lot of time in the ED as well, so I know you're afraid of boredom. My new job is still very busy.....outpatient suregery is the up & coming mode of surgery. Most insurance companies want to pay out the least money, so of course, no overnight stays mean more money in their pockets. We're so busy, I still manage to pick up overtime once a week or so. Sometimes I run so much, I skip my gym workout in the evening! Don't be afraid to give it a shot. I'm sure you're going to enjoy the new place! I was worried too...for no reason! I thought I'd miss my friends too much, too (form 25 yrs at the same OR!!) but the new ones are a very close group....we have to be, since we need to rely on each other so much in a smaller place. Relax & enjoy yourself! You also may get some perks.....we have access to box seats at the local hall for concerts, sporting events, etc, as well as a free family picnic & a day at the races, all expensed paid, every summer! Go for it.

nursemartin76 · Jul 20, 2008

WOW!! Thanks you guys for the great responses. I took your advice and stayed PRN in my ol' ER so I'll always know I can drop in and say "hi" and make sure I still keep up those skills. I suppose it is always scary to change jobs and areas, but I am going into this with an open mind and I am of course very excited about the money increase and having weekends/holidays with my family.

Spiker, ASN, RN, EMT-P · Jul 20, 2008

You'll be happy you signed on.....I did forget to mention what a wonderful thing it is to not worry about holiday & weekend duty anymore! Make all the plans you want, baby! have fun!

Spiker, ASN, RN, EMT-P · May 14, 2009

Glad you took the plunge! As I noted in my previous post, if we weren't busy on the evening shift in the OR