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Does anyone have any opinion on whether or not I should just go straight to the O.R. after school since that is what I have always wanted dince being a kid, to rotating through the O.R. in LPN school, 'til now in LPN Transition- it is the only thing I feel drawn to... If I don't ever plan to "work the floor" anyway, why should I "get the experience"? I am in my 40's and I am ready to go straight to my goal, which has always been scrub / circulating O.R. R.N.?

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

My opinion is that you should go for it! Of course there are pros and cons to doing it either way but I have to say it seems to me that the really out spoken "you must have a year of med-surge" proponents are often ones that felt pressured to do med-surge right out of school themselves. Again, just my opinion, but for now the bottom line in my area is that if you should happen to change your mind down the road you can surely apply for another speciality and all hospitals offer orientation programs. I recently worked with an ER nurse that was a psych nurse for 15 years out of nursing school and surprise, surprise she not only didn't kill anyone with her lack of med surge expertise she also didn't have any trouble getting her ER job when she was ready for a change. Best wishes with whatever you decide. Jules

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Specializes in PACU.

What have you been doing as an LPN? You might already have all of the basic nursing experience that you will ever "need." If what you really want to do is OR nursing, you should go for it so long as you can get a decent orientation.

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What have you been doing as an LPN? You might already have all of the basic nursing experience that you will ever "need." If what you really want to do is OR nursing, you should go for it so long as you can get a decent orientation.

.... I agree, a good orientation means everything. I have been working at a "doc-in-the-box" except 20 years ago when I worked med-surg a year or so, but things were so different then, and it seems like a lifetime ago, but I really don't feel like that was where I belonged... even as a Candy-Striper (yes, I wore the stripped dress and all) I hung around the OR as much as I could because I just wanted to peek in there every chance I got, which I did sometimes. By the way, if I have done this reply wrong, please tell me b/c I am new at this and am not sure how to keep up a forum.... Thanks!:nurse:

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My opinion is that you should go for it! Of course there are pros and cons to doing it either way but I have to say it seems to me that the really out spoken "you must have a year of med-surge" proponents are often ones that felt pressured to do med-surge right out of school themselves. Again, just my opinion, but for now the bottom line in my area is that if you should happen to change your mind down the road you can surely apply for another speciality and all hospitals offer orientation programs. I recently worked with an ER nurse that was a psych nurse for 15 years out of nursing school and surprise, surprise she not only didn't kill anyone with her lack of med surge expertise she also didn't have any trouble getting her ER job when she was ready for a change. Best wishes with whatever you decide. Jules

Thanks for the opinion, I think I can do OR nursing well as long as I get a good orientation- I think most places do 6 weeks, right?:confused:

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