How do we become OR nurses in NYC as new-grads?

[frostrambler]

My friend and I finished nursing school (BSN) in June. We both got our RN license in the past few weeks and now we are researching hospitals to which we should apply.

Both of us want to do operating room nursing, I went into college four years ago wanting to be an OR nurse, and that hasn't changed since. I have done some preliminary research on hospitals in the NYC area (focusing more on Manhattan and Brooklyn), but my friend and I were both hoping someone in here knows a lot more than we do and can give us a step in the right direction.

Since we are new-grads we know that getting an OR position is harder than an RN with experience, but we also know that they are available. Cornell has an OR residency program for new nurses and Sloan-Kettering had it last year, not sure about this year.

My friend and I made a list of the hospitals we want to research for being hired as new grads directly into the OR:

1.Cornell Presbyterian

2. Sloan Kettering

3. Hospital for Special Surgery

4. HHC-- Bellevue

5. Hospital for special surgery

6. Mt. Sinai

7. Lenox Hill

8. NYU Tisch

9. Beth Israel

Brooklyn

Methodist

SUNY Downstate

We are slowly going down the list and filling in information for nursing recruiters, names, program information (duration, etc).

Since we do not know many OR nurses in NYC, we were hoping that someone here could help us as I said earlier. Tell us to go for, or not go for a hospital on our list, mention another good one we should try.

Any information at all would be appreciated, we just want to make sure that we get into a good hospital and don't end up regretting it later.

I'm currently browsing these hospitals websites and allnurses.com, trying to get as much info as possible on them beforehand.

Thanks for anyone's help in advance, I appreciate it.

[InspireMe]

Hello.. I graduated last year and I'm in the OR now, hired as a new grad..although I had 7 months experience on the floor. I did an externship at NYU in the OR, and I do recommend that you apply there, the staff, and the nurse educators are great, supportive and helpful. I suggest you pick teaching hospitals such as NYU, Cornell and Mount Sinai to apply to because you won't be thrown right away since you'll be learning A LOT of information from instruments, to sterile technique, scrubbing, circulating and knowing different services. With teaching hospitals everyone around you is there to help, assist and teach you everything you need to know. Good luck with applying, if you have a passion for the OR- you'll love it, I definitely do!

[nurseforyou]

Hello InspireMe. I have been hearing a lot of how tough the NYU OR is. Can you please explain more about the competancy tests. I was told by the hiring manager that you get two trys. If you do not make the first one you get a second chance. If you mess up on the second chance she brings you in her office and lets you go.

What are these tests like? Do you think the OR appropriate for new grads?

Thanks!