How to pick the best OR RN Internship/Fellowship?

Chaoticdreams33, MSN, RN · Jul 31, 2007

I'm not even hired for an OR position yet but I am hopefully going to interview soon at the hospital I started at in June as a new grad. So I might not have the BEST answer for you.

I would look for at program at least 6 months in length, with classroom and clinical days. I would also definately shadow first because most places that train you will ask for at least 1-2 years of FT employment after the training is completed. Some hospitals require a written contract of this, and breaking the contract will cost you some big bucks. Also shadowing will let you FEEL what it's like there and communicate with members of the team. Ask about preceptors and which specialties you'll be rotating through as well as if they train you to scrub and circulate or just circulate. Hmm, what else? I'll ge tback to you if I think of anything else.

luvs2readlotsRN · Jul 31, 2007

Thanks! I appreciate your response.

Shadowing....in fact next week I'm going to shadow at the local academic hospital(while I'm on summer break). It's really my first choice as I have always liked the environment there. I keep thinking it must be a red flag that the other large hospital with an OR fellowship doesnt allow shadowing. Both of these fellowships have classroom time, one-on-one with a preceptor. The large nationally recognized hospital has said their internship runs 6-9 months depending on the specialty. The other larger hospital's fellowship is 9 months and you must sign a 2 year contract to work for them from that point on.

The smaller hospital(one-on-one training)hasnt mentioned anything about classroom time at this point, guess that's my next question for them, huh?

Can you tell I'm just so excited to be heading into the last 2 semesters of nursing school and then out to the real world!! But, I do need to get through these two semesters. AND I WILL DO IT!

Thanks to all who take time to read this thread and to post any help!

1studentnurse · Jul 31, 2007

Which one in St. Louis would not allow shadowing?

St. John's Mercy has an OR fellowship and I just heard about one at St. Anthony's Hospital, which starts in September. St. Anthony's doesn't have much info on their site, and they require a two year commitment, too.

Some people in my class got into the OR at St. Luke's in Chesterfield, and Northwestern University Hospital in Chicago but some hospitals, such as the SSM ones here, will not hire new grads into the OR. It really depends I guess.

luvs2readlotsRN · Aug 1, 2007

St. John's has told me at the present time that due to insurance issues they do not allow shadowing in their OR. They may be changing this in the near future, and I was told to contact them closer to graduation to see if they had changed their policy.

Thanks for the information about St. Lukes & St. Anthony's. I hadnt looked into their programs as of yet, but will do!

ewattsjt · Aug 1, 2007

Definitely shadow first if given the opportunity. It allows you to see first handed. Everyone says they have a great facility but it may not really be your niche. Talk to the surgery managers (team leaders) and RNs that may have gone through an internship like the one you seek. See if they advise it at their facility.

The facility that doesn’t allow a student to work as an intern may not be a red flag. They may have been burned too many times to feel it is worth the time to train you. (i.e. they train you for 9 mths so they get a graduate that needs no additional training. You have to sign on for a 2 year contract or pay them X amount of $. You go to another facility for a sign on bonus and pay off the X amount). Now the facility is short staffed and will have to orient a new person costing additional money. It happens sometimes.

My point is to try to shadow at all the facilities for a couple of days and pick the brains of the staff on what is what.