ICU & OR debate...

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Between ICU and OR, which area of nursing is it easier/more difficult to get your foot in the door? (Area of interest is not a factor in consideration of this question.)

Many OR's seem to have contracts requiring years of service for training. However, many ICU's, in this area, won't interview a potential applicant unless they have X years of experience.

Any insight is appreciated.

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Specializes in SICU.

Depends on your area. My hospital will take new grads into the ICU's and PACU but not the OR. Other hospitals require experience prior to going into the ICU etc. My friend is a new grad in a different hospital and is going straight into the OR.

You need to call the hospitals in your area and find out there requirements.

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I just got into a OR training program. What surprised me is how long people stay in the OR. People described how terrible it was on the floor or unit. People in the OR said they would never go back to the floor or unit. When you are in the OR, there is at least one circulator and one scrub. They cannot dump more patients on you. It was hard to get into the OR training program. Twenty five people applied for nine positions.

When I was in the ICU, there was constant turnover. People seem to burn out in the ICUs. I was taken into the CTU right out of nursing school. I think a floor that heavy is too much for a new graduate nurse unless you have a long, in-depth orientation.

This is just my opinion.

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OR seems harder to get into ... most OR nurses never seem to want to leave.

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Specializes in ER, OR, MICU.

I did both...it was waaaayyyyy easier to get into the ICU than the OR. I think there are a number of reasons though...ICU is bigger and requires more staff and the turnover is much higher than in the OR. Nurses in the OR usually stay there until they retire for the most part and there is much more limited staffing. I loved the OR in its worse times and best of times. I left only to goto anesthesia school but had I not chosen that path I would have stayed in the OR. It is NOT perfect and there are VERY stressful days but nothing compared to the floor or the unit.

The unit and the OR is not a place for a timid new nurse. If you have confidence in your skills and for the most part have a good grasp on basic nursing then I think these departments are OK but one can get very disheartened quickly because both are very demanding.

I am not saying a new nurse can't do it because you can do anything you set your mind to but you just have to be prepared.

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I definitely agree with everyone else, its much harder to get into the OR. Where I work you have to do like 6 months or more training as an intern in the OR. The only new grad I've ever known to go straight to the OR was a guy I knew that was a scrub tech before nursing school who knew everyone and all the docs...ofcourse he would get it. For ICU my hospital only looks for a year of general nursing experience. I think its a good idea that its hard to get into both because they are very specialized areas and you want the best nurses for the job...right?;)

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I also hear that they are phasing out OR nurses ... the jobs are being replaced by scrub techs. The only position for nurses will be as a circulator and openings for those positions are rare.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I also hear that they are phasing out OR nurses ... the jobs are being replaced by scrub techs. The only position for nurses will be as a circulator and openings for those positions are rare.

I've never heard of OR nurses being phased out.

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, Emergency, SAFE.
I also hear that they are phasing out OR nurses ... the jobs are being replaced by scrub techs. The only position for nurses will be as a circulator and openings for those positions are rare.

Not true. They will NEVER phase out Nurses in the OR. Some states, techs cant legally circulate.

Aorn says "Every Patient deserves an RN."

My hospital goes by that mantra, lol...so I know it all too well...

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Thanks for all the comments. Based on my unscientific research, the doors into and out of the OR seem more narrow than those into and out of the ICU. Few people getting in, and fewer people coming out.

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I don't mean completely phased out but the only positions for RNs in the OR will be as a circulator. RNs will not be hired to do the same work that can be done by an OR tech.

If an OR tech can competently do the job at a lower price, the hospital is going to hire OR techs, not RNs. This is what I have heard ... I am not saying this is going to happen everywhere but that is the plan for this one particular level 1 trauma hospital in my area.

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I don't mean completely phased out but the only positions for RNs in the OR will be as a circulator. RNs will not be hired to do the same work that can be done by an OR tech.

If an OR tech can competently do the job at a lower price, the hospital is going to hire OR techs, not RNs. This is what I have heard ... I am not saying this is going to happen everywhere but that is the plan for this one particular level 1 trauma hospital in my area.

Out of curiosity, which state do you claim as your area?

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