Hello! Just passed the boards.. Operating Room or Critical Care??

Corvette Guy · Sep 20, 2006

Hi to everyone! I'm new to this site. I recently passed my board exams and could use some advice. I would like to one day become a nurse anesthetist and i realize CCU training is needed for that. I have 2 options.. one is to wait 3 months and start at cooper's CCU or go to the University of Penn hospital for their gateway to the Operating Room. I'm somewhat torn.. what's the best area to start off your nursing career? If i go into O.R now will it be difficult to adjust after a few years to get into a critical care unit? Hope someone will spare some advice. I could really use it. Thanks so much!!

I've worked both ICU & OR. They are two completely different worlds. If your goal is to some day apply for CRNA program, then definitely go into Cooper's ICU.

lpjmmb · Sep 20, 2006

I've worked both ICU & OR. They are two completely different worlds. If your goal is to some day apply for CRNA program, then definitely go into Cooper's ICU.

Thanks for the advice. I think deep down i know that i need CCU/ICU training. It's just that Penn is one of the best hospitals in the country and it would be a really great experience at the same time i need to get the basics of nursing down. I'll learn that in CCU for sure. I wonder what its like at Cooper. Would you happen to know? thanks!!!

EnergizerNurse · Sep 25, 2006

Some nurse anesthesia programs prefer that their students have more than a CCU background. My friends who have researched CRNA programs have been told that they have a preference toward admitting nurses with MICU and SICU experience, as you will be dealing with a wide-breadth of patients in those units. With CCU, you only deal with cardiac issues.

Lots of employers treat critical care RNs as the creme-de-la-creme among nurses. Therefore, it's much easier to transition from a critical care background into the OR, rather than vice-versa.

Does the Gateway to the OR program at U Penn train you to be circulating RN? Scrub RN? Or both? Are you given a choice, if you want to specialize in one role only?

stefanitenzi · Sep 30, 2006

If you need OR expereince Morristown Memorial (atlantic health) has a hire learning program...for the OR i think it is about 6 months and supposed to be a great program.

lpjmmb · Oct 3, 2006

Hi Thanks so much to everyone for their advice. I've ruled out O.R for now. I realized i have so much to learn so now its either Med-Surg or ICU. I know that the whole MedSurg before ICUis old fashion but jumping right into ICU kinda scares me. I feel like i'm starting from scratch! Does anyone know any south jersey hospitals that are hiring new grads into medsurg or ICU? Thanks again!!