I want to be an OR nurse...how can I get applicable experience?

[AJS1]

I am a sophomore nursing student. Since I'v pursued nursing, I'v always wanted to be in the OR. I shadowed an OR nurse and I was simply amazed. The OR simply has something that no other facet of health care does, in my opinion. As a student, I know that I should also get a job to gain some sort of nursing experience. However... I recently got a job as a Patient Care Tech (PCT) on a post-op floor. I thought that this would be a good position, seeing as it at least has some correlation to surgery (or so I thought). Turns out I hate it. Not sure exactly what I was expecting, but all I do is help patients with ADLs. I do not like this CNA - type work, as it doesn't spark any sort of interest to me; I don't use any of my medical knowledge in this setting. So, I am reaching out for help. Does anyone know of any experience I can get while being a nursing student that would maybe be applicable to my hopeful future in the OR? Or am I just going to have to suck it up and keep being a CNA, basically?

[brownbook]

Maybe you could look for a CNA or PCT job in a surgical center or hospital surgical unit.

Hospitals have out patient surgery and in-patient surgery units. Especially the out patient surgery units use CNA's and PCT's. But some in-patient units do also. In addition there are free standing out patient surgical units not connected to acute care hospitals. But still a way to get your foot in the door.

That "may be" a way to network, get to know OR staff.

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

My hospital has case techs. They are not certified. They basically help bring in the patient and help the surg techs start prepping their skin once they are under anesthesia in the OR.

There was also some sort of anesthesia tech (not a CRNA and there aren't anesthesia assistants in my state). They were also unlicensenced. But I'm not fully clear on what they do.

[Cupcake2018]

Ask your nursing program and the local hospitals and surgery centers if there are any shadowing or volunteer opportunities. Sure, you won't get paid and you might not get much hands-on experience, but an awful lot can be learned through simple observation.

As a nursing student, I think you should keep your CNA job. Even if you don't like it. If you can endure the parts about your job that you don't like now then chances are pretty good that you will be able to endure some of the unpleasantries that nursing will undoubtedly have to offer once you start working as one. After all, so many new nurses leave because they think they can't handle it. Such a waste, really, especially during a time when health-care workers are in high demand. Someone who has built up their endurance through experience, such as you, will likely make it as a nurse in the long run. Try to focus on some of the positives that come with your job. You get to work with nurses and other members of the health-care team, so there's a lot to learn from that experience. You get to learn how to balance your time and prioritize. You get to work very closely with patients, so this is great patient communication experience. Show interest in your patients when you're providing care for them, it truly means the world to some of them. A lot of them are grateful so it's can sometimes be a rewarding experience. Good luck.

~ A fellow nursing student and CNA