Have you worked outside the OR?

I had worked for a number of years as a Paramedic, then in an ED before going to nursing school. After I graduated I worked in the ED again but found I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. I went to a M/S floor for about 6 months before going to the OR for the past 27 years. Mike

I too worked about 5.5 mos on an endocrine diagnostics and resp. dump floor. No one would hire a new grad to surgery at that time and if you could believe it a hiring freeze for nursing with a local glut of grads looking for jobs. Immediately after taking report every day I would go to the hall phone and hammer the surgery super for a job. Finally got one and have been in OR for 19 yrs. If I couldn't do this for a living I would kill myself.

G'day All,

I'm going home to theatres straight from registration, my uni placements on the wards was enough for me! I've been an Enrolled Nurse on the wards for too long, before getting into theatres in Jan 1999, and never looking back.

I'm sure this topic has been asked before, but how many of you started in the OR right out of school and how many came to the OR from other areas?

Just curious!:)

I went straight to the OR out of nursing school in 1981--I had been a corpsman and went to operating room technician school in the Navy--however, right out of Navy OR school I worked ER for 3 years until discharge in '78.

I don't work full time in an OR anymore--haven't worked full time in an OR since 1995--I do occasional OR travel assignments and registry; legal nurse consulting (primarily) and used to teach clinical IV nursing.

I started in the O.R. directly out of nursing school. Had been a Landscape Architect for six years before going to nursing school. Have been in the O.R. for six years now.....

Staffed on a medical when I first graduated, did my midwifery, worked as a midwife, then the OR and have been there many years now.

Started in the ICU out of school, then into the OR after about 2 years. Stayed in the OR for 5 and went back to the ICU - thinking that I needed to "keep up my skills". Well I got over myself in a hurry and am now back in the OR where I belong. (I too would not work in nursing if not for the OR)

I worked in the CTICU for 6 mos ( they ate their young) then moved to SICU for 2.5 years, then went to do some travel nursing on the other side of the US for 13 weeks in an MICU, then decided I needed a break and went to the OR and have been here for 1.5 years.

I worked in the OR for 5 years right outta college. I stayed at one place for 4.5 years then made a switch to another hospital and hated it. I felt burned out and wanted to learn some "basic" nursing skills that I felt I lacked in the OR. I now work in a surgeons office but have realized that I'm better suited for the OR. I do a lot of desk work, answering the phone, triage, secretarial type of stuff along with sharing room duties with another nurse. I'm glad I've learned what I learned at the office but the type of work in the OR--set up for the case, do the case, send the patient to recovery, THE END, (maybe!) fits me better. This constantly following up, tracking down patients for blown-off appointments, etc. is not for me. I like the equipment, the tools, the instruments, the commeraderie that I found in surgery. So, I'm looking around for an OR job at the moment. Know of any places in Chicago to recommend?

No, i've only worked in the OR since i became a nurse.

Started first on surgical floor, then left for occupational nursing (mining company), then community health, back to hospital OR, PACU and presently in ER/ICU. Casual on Maternity floor.

Teach part time BScN students.

Sarah