General refresher or OR refresher? Needed?

[ajaxgirl]

Let me give some background first.

I have a BScN and did the OR certifcate in 1997. I graduated in 1996.

Dates are approximate.

1997-1998 I worked LTC

1998-2005 I worked OR

2006-2010 I did LTC but a very small facility and did not use many nursing skills but did use some. I was part time or casual depending on when.

For about 4 months I returned to OR in 2009/2010. I hated that OR and quit.

I have been working in Case Management for 5.5 years.

I like it but I miss the hands on and would like to keep my current job but also do some hands on. I am not sure if I want to go back to OR or something else. However, I am not that confident with basic skills because it has been a while.

I guess I need to figure out what I want to do. I am looking at general RN refreshers to brush up on basic skills. I am wondering if I should do an OR refresher instead.

I am more confident in my OR skills actually.

I worry about catherizations in the OR or starting IV's as I have not done these since 2006. Also, injections, although I have only seen them given rarely in the OR and the anesthesiologist did it.

Any advice?

[ruralgirl08]

I think you should do the RN refresher, it'll open more doors for other positions. I think due to your previous OR experience, you would still be a great candidate if you wanted to go back to the OR. But if you want to go straight back to the OR, do an OR refresher. Hope you make the right choice for you.

[WhoDatWhoDare, BSN, RN]

Are you in the US? I'm not sure I understand what you are asking. In my hospital, we have new grads and new to OR nurses go through a PeriOp 101 course that is provided by the hospital. They don't offer this to anyone who isn't selected to work in the OR. But once again that is in my hospital here in Texas.

If you are able to take an OR class that is an acceptable substitution to actual circulating experience for the local hospital/surgery centers, then I supposed it would make sense for you to do that. If you've been out of the OR for almost a decade, you will have forgotten most if not all of what you did learn in your short tenure in the OR previously.

Good luck

[ajaxgirl]

I am going to spend a few months thinking about what I want to do.

i just found out that George Brown has a course where it's a skills refresher. I could take that course only. It's theory but then you practice in a lab. It is part of the refresher but you can take just that course. It may be enough. I am not sure.

I think I do want to go back to the OR.

[ajaxgirl]

I am not in the US. Here you take an OR course through a college. Then you apply for jobs.

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Threads merged for continuity.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

After working in the OR, you will likely detest floor nursing.....at least what it has become now. Most units are chronically understaffed. Consider taking an OR refresher if one is available.