How to get a position in the O.R.

Specialties Operating Room

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I'm an RN with a few years of nursing experience, but no floor experience. I haven't even been looked at for O.R. internships here in Texas because I do not have my BSN yet. I plan on doing the online RN to BSN this fall. My question is, do most O.R.'s want you to have some med-surg floor experience in addition to the BSN if you are not a new grad?

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Specializes in OR.

My answer is strictly from my own point of view, floor nursing is not necessary to become a good OR nurse.

OR is a totally different learning experience.

The OR that I work at does not have that as a requirement and we preceptor and train as soon as nurse completes OR post grad course.

The nurse may be a new grad, a mat nurse, a surgical nurse or nurse who has worked long term care & psych.... I have seen all of these nurses with these backgrounds become excellent OR nurses!

There are different skill sets in each area of nursing and they all can be valuable to OR nursing!

From what I can ascertain, the steps to becoming an OR nurse in the US are a little different from Canada, but we all get to the same place eventually..

Good luck in your pursuit of OR nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
My answer is strictly from my own point of view, floor nursing is not necessary to become a good OR nurse.

OR is a totally different learning experience.

The OR that I work at does not have that as a requirement and we preceptor and train as soon as nurse completes OR post grad course.

The nurse may be a new grad, a mat nurse, a surgical nurse or nurse who has worked long term care & psych.... I have seen all of these nurses with these backgrounds become excellent OR nurses!

There are different skill sets in each area of nursing and they all can be valuable to OR nursing!

From what I can ascertain, the steps to becoming an OR nurse in the US are a little different from Canada, but we all get to the same place eventually..

Good luck in your pursuit of OR nursing.

Hi,

So psych nurses can transfer to OR nursing? Because I hate floor nursing, no offense to any that loves it not for me. I have less then a yr of nursing exp mostly in psych which I actually like. But everyone tells me I have to have med surg exp which I don't like.

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Specializes in OR.

I am speaking only as a Canadian nurse, and yes, I have worked with nurses in the OR who had a background in psychiatry 1st before they took the OR post grad nursing courses.

Med Surg is quite different from working in the OR.. and, as I said, I think that each area of nursing is a specialty unto itself..

If there is a will, there is a way! In my opinion, Med Surg is not required to be a good OR nurse.

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I am speaking only as a Canadian nurse, and yes, I have worked with nurses in the OR who had a background in psychiatry 1st before they took the OR post grad nursing courses.

Med Surg is quite different from working in the OR.. and, as I said, I think that each area of nursing is a specialty unto itself..

If there is a will, there is a way! In my opinion, Med Surg is not required to be a good OR nurse.

Thank you!

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Specializes in School Nursing.

It's not that I hate med-surg, I just don't think I'm good at it. People are good at different things. I have given med-surg a try a couple of times, and I just don't think I can handle the pace of so many patients at once. I really WANTED to be good at it, but I'm better at being hyperfocused on one patient at a time. I'm good at making sure things are correct and that nothing is going to slip through the cracks. They tease me at work right now because they think I'm a little too particular about everything being "correct" all of the time. Would slow me down in med-surg, but might be a good trait to have in the OR. Not that I'm that slow; once I learn something I become very efficient. I'm also good at reading people, and anticipating what their needs may be before they ask. I don't know, I may be wrong, but I just have a feeling that the OR would be where I belong.

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From what I've heard most places like new grads so they can "tune" them up just like they want to. I contemplated working the floor or going straight into the OR - but sometimes you just know where you want and need to be. Everyone says the OR is its own world and very different from the floor so it wouldn't hurt but I don't see why that'd be a requirement. Don't get discouraged. I'm a new grad ADN graduating this month, so keep at it. I would email, call or visit HR - I actually did haha.

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I Am becoming an OR nurse.... I starts after Memorial Day! I was hired in from PACU and Scopes (with float to pain clinic). I do have floor experience and ED experience, but from what I can tell, I will be going to the OR as the only nurse who has had any outside experience im nursing at all. 2 of them are brand new grads. One has 5 years of psych, but the rest are all strictly OR. So, I'd say your chances are very good of being hired. I know we are hiring another RN for OR....

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I Am becoming an OR nurse.... I starts after Memorial Day! I was hired in from PACU and Scopes (with float to pain clinic). I do have floor experience and ED experience, but from what I can tell, I will be going to the OR as the only nurse who has had any outside experience im nursing at all. 2 of them are brand new grads. One has 5 years of psych, but the rest are all strictly OR. So, I'd say your chances are very good of being hired. I know we are hiring another RN for OR....

Wow, that's good to know.... I feel like there is no hope unless I get that med surg exp.... Thanks again.

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I'm a canadian nursing student looking to graduate this December, there is a hospital in my province that offers to train new grads/nurses in periop. Should I apply for the internship or not bother with it and take the periop course through a post secondary institution? What can I do to make my resume stand out?

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My answer is strictly from my own point of view, floor nursing is not necessary to become a good OR nurse.

OR is a totally different learning experience.

The OR that I work at does not have that as a requirement and we preceptor and train as soon as nurse completes OR post grad course.

The nurse may be a new grad, a mat nurse, a surgical nurse or nurse who has worked long term care & psych.... I have seen all of these nurses with these backgrounds become excellent OR nurses!

There are different skill sets in each area of nursing and they all can be valuable to OR nursing!

From what I can ascertain, the steps to becoming an OR nurse in the US are a little different from Canada, but we all get to the same place eventually..

Good luck in your pursuit of OR nursing.

Yes I agree with what you have said, I am a new hire to the OR and was fortunate enough to find a hospital with a program for post grad candidates. This is where they will train and precept me and 6 others for 6 months duration. I have 1 1/2 years of nursing in a long term care field and nothing more. Don't give up hope. It is possible. I will be starting this June :-)

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Yes I agree with what you have said, I am a new hire to the OR and was fortunate enough to find a hospital with a program for post grad candidates. This is where they will train and precept me and 6 others for 6 months duration. I have 1 1/2 years of nursing in a long term care field and nothing more. Don't give up hope. It is possible. I will be starting this June :-)

That's awesome congrats!!!!!

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