How to transition from OR nursing to the floor?

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0Hi everyone!

Are there any OR nurses out there that have gone from OR to floor nursing? If so, what specialty did you switch to and what OR nurse skills did you mention in your interview in order to get the job?

The OR is my first job out of school and I have been in the OR for 10 months now. At first, I found OR nursing really intriguing because there was so much I didn't know and it was challenging for me. However, now I'm eager to learn more and grow more as an RN and I feel like I'm loosing a lot of bedside skills and knowledge about meds/diseases that I learned in nursing school. I love the OR, but I am thinking about my future and eventually I'd like to go back to school and become a nurse practitioner. That's why I want to work on the floor. I'm specifically interested in a cardiac med surg or step down unit! I loved learning about the cardiovascular system and want to develop nursing skills on the floor to help patients with cardiac conditions.

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

I did LTC, Hospice, Home Health, and ER before I went to the OR. After 3 years I am bored but I have no idea where I want to go. I am currently getting my MSN and I dont have to think hard nor am I under pressure. I do miss my skills and I am thinking about going back to ER, ICU and maybe PACU.

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I have been a floor nurse for many years and am looking to see if OR nursing is something that I may be able to do. Keeping my eye open for OR residencies. OR nurses make more money than floor nurses and they are in high demand. Even if you are on the cardiac/stepdown unit, not all your pts will be cardiac pts. You'll have your share of drug seekers, ETOH withdrawals, dialysis pts who are freq fliers for missing HD, stroke rule outs, AMS, and other messes. Stay in OR for a few years and get some mad skills. The floor nursing skills you think you are missing out on are not glamorous and they are easy enough to learn quickly. The hardest floor nursing skill is probably time management.

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