Have you worked outside the OR?

Sarah, RNBScN · Jan 29, 2005

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

granny7 · Jan 29, 2005

been in the OR since graduating college. Before I became a nurse I was an aide in home health for 10 years. Thought that was what I wanted to do after becoming a RN. But once I walked into the OR, Hello Nurse!!! that was it for me. Even now, I do suffer from burnout and even traveled as a OR RN for about a year. I love what I do.

thicklynn · Jan 31, 2005

I spent my first 16 years of nursing doing the Med-Surg thing and after spending the last three years in the OR, I could kick myself for not getting into it a lot sooner!!! I love the fact that I deal with one patient at a time, instead of the loaded patient census I had before. Of course you have some crazy surgeons to deal with but I deal with that by remembering that the case will eventually be over and that those guys don't pay my salary!!! LOL!!!

ShirleyM · Feb 2, 2005

I spent 1 1/2 yrs on a post-surgical floor. I had been told by my teachers at the time that I needed some experience on the floor before going into the OR, plus the schools in Toronto that offered the O.R course recommended a year on the floor(that's where I was at the time). So I did that, got married and moved to Texas. After I passed the NCLEX I shopped around for the OR internship that most appealed to me, I'll be in the OR two years as of this May. I knew back in nursing school that I wanted to go into the OR. Do I regret my time on the the surgical floor? No, I needed that experience. It helped me with my organisation and priority setting. Now, would I go back to the floor? Absolutely not, I like the OR way too much.

spineCNOR · Feb 5, 2005

I worked in Maternal Child (L&D and NICU) about 10 years before going into the OR. Scrubbing and circulating C-sections is what got me interested in working in the OR. I am glad I have had had some nursing experience outside the OR, I do think it helps to understand what is going on with patients in terms of their disease process.

Nikkolekantola · Feb 7, 2005

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 started in the OR right after graduation from nursing school. I knew that the OR was for me when I did the rotation in school. I have been in the OR for 12 years now and wouldn't enjoy anything else. It was intimidating at first due to no experience in school but most places give an extensive orientation period (up to 6 months). The learning never stops either but once you work in the OR you will know if it is for you or not. I love it.

spidermonkey · Mar 19, 2005

:)

grimmy, RN · Mar 19, 2005

i started out in the or, and i love it. i can't imagine doing anything else right now. of course, i did work as a pct in nursing school, floating through the different units, but nursing is different than being a pct. it did teach me a valuable lesson, though: don't suffer in a place where you don't want to be; i saw so many young nurses slogging through their days in units where they were miserable, only so that they could pay their dues to be somewhere else (like traveling, doing icu, going back to school to be a crna, np, etc.) as long as the orientation and learning period is sufficient (minimum 6 months with scrubbing and circulating), starting out in the or can be wonderful. i knew when i started nursing school that i wanted to be an or nurse, and i've not regretted it.

Penguinurse · Mar 19, 2005

I did 6 years med/surg and tele before going to the OR, which saved my sanity. :) After a few years of not dealing with awake patients, I'm over my burnout and in hospice, but if I hadn't gone to the OR I wouldn't be in nursing today.

Nursingal · May 19, 2006

I got my ORT in the Army, then when I got my RN, I stayed in the OR. Had to learn PACU.....but, I know I'm definatly not a floor nurse...I'm where I need to be.

RNERHOUSESUPOR · May 21, 2006

Spent 15 years in ER, House Supervisor and Office Nursing. Am most glad to finally find a place in the OR.