How to become an OR nurse?

[chickadeepie]

Hello All,

I am a new grad nurse that was fortunate to start in the MICU. I'm still in that stage of anxiety, dread as a new nurse each day I work but am blessed to have this experience. I want to work for at least a yr in the ICU maybe more. I was interested into going into the OR. How might I be able to do that? Do I need to take a class? Go into a periop program if those even exist anymore? I was thinking about asking whoever in my hospital if I could shadow an OR nurse for day. I've only had one clinical experience from nursing school in the OR and enjoyed it. So what are the steps or classes i need to do? Is there a certification I need to obtain?

Jessica

[ICU, RN, BSN, B.S.]

Hello All,

I am a new grad nurse that was fortunate to start in the MICU. I'm still in that stage of anxiety, dread as a new nurse each day I work but am blessed to have this experience. I want to work for at least a yr in the ICU maybe more. I was interested into going into the OR. How might I be able to do that? Do I need to take a class? Go into a periop program if those even exist anymore? I was thinking about asking whoever in my hospital if I could shadow an OR nurse for day. I've only had one clinical experience from nursing school in the OR and enjoyed it. So what are the steps or classes i need to do? Is there a certification I need to obtain?

Jessica

Hi Jessica,

I'm Lisa (i'm using my sister's account, trying to set mine up) but i saw your post. I'm in the Operating Room. I 'm a RN with almost 2 years experience. I had about 1.5 yrs experience on step down pulmonary/medical unit then went per diem whle being in a periop program. If you're wanting to work in the OR , I would DEF recommend finding a periperative nursing program that gives you classroom, lab, and clinical experience. Where do you live? I live in MA, so they have one here. Does that help?

Lisa

[chickadeepie]

Thank you for your reply Lisa! I live in VA and I don't think I have any periop programs in my hampton roads area... I did find a list online I think through the AORN website. I guess they recommend nurses to have some sort of educational training before trying to go into periop position?

Jessica

[ICU, RN, BSN, B.S.]

I'm not sure.

[odos]

Talk to the OR director and let them know you are interested in the OR and would like to shadow. Even though you are not an experienced OR nurse- you are an experienced nurse so that always helps. I don't think you'd have to take a class- I'm not sure what is even available. A lot of times you get hired into the OR and the "classes" are in your orientation. You CAN get certified in the OR. It's called CNOR. But that is only available to OR nurses that have at least two years experience. One way to get into surgical services is through the PACU. PACU usually looks for RNs with ICU experience so that might be another way to get into the OR since PACU falls under surgical services. Working in the PACU allows you to work closely with the OR nurses, CRNA's, anesthesia and surgeons since you are recovering people immediately after surgery. So after working in the PACU a while you can probably easily transfer to the OR. Hope that helps!

[msn2010]

I wanted to be in the OR even before I started my nursing school.

It is very hard to get into the OR since OR training program is very expensive. My educator shared with me that it is about $200,000 for each trainee (there are six)!!!

My program is one year long (both scrubbing and circulating in various services; including specialized areas such as neuro, spine, ortho, all the oncology team.

There are very few of OR trainee program available, usually in teaching hospitals (university) and some require you to sign a contract for two years of your service after the program.

Good luck! I do not regret being an OR RN as a new grad but I wish I have floor experience as well. It is VERY different type of nursing, nothing like you learned in nursing school.