ICU to OR

[ICURN099]

So i've been in ICU for 1 year now, and am switching jobs because my husband just got a new job and his schedule doesn't mesh with my 3 - 12s/nights/holidays/weekends.

I was just offerred a position in OR, where I would work M-F and be off at 3pm every day and work q.5th.wknd.

My question is, i'm beginning an RN-MSN program and will eventually have my NP. I'm wondering, if going to the OR is going to hold me back in future job opportunities as an NP? I am pretty open to working in a clinic or being employed in the hospital setting and rounding with physicians, etc (as an NP).

I will not be done with NP for another 3.5 years, so i'm wondering if that 1 year of ICU experience plus a few years of OR will be enough experience to land an NP position, or if it will hold me back? I've also considered staying in OR for a couple years and maybe moving to a clinic as an RN my last year of NP school, to be more experienced in the clinic role.

[GadgetRN71, ASN, RN]

I know people who went to NP school through an accelerated program, where they had no prior healthcare experience at all and they did OK. I do know that CRNA programs want you to have a year or so of ICU, but the NP programs I've looked into had no such restriction. NP are a different breed than RNs so while I think previous experience helps, I don't think it affects the job search all that much.

[cdsga]

Hold you back? I don't think so. You will learn quite a bit. I started in ICU and went to PACU and then to the OR. You will learn so much to be able to teach your patients, not to mention the practical skills in wound care, and minor surgical techniques that you will be able to master when you become a NP. These skills are invaluable. I highly recommend the OR to anyone that will be working outside the hospital environment-or in the field one day.

[Who?Me?]

Opens doors to becoming a Surgical NP that can assist in the operating room and do post-operative care. Your clinical experiences in NP school will give you exposure in plenty of areas. Just think about how much you learned after leaving school and working...tons! Same thing will happen with your time as a NP. Good luck! Where are you going to school for your NP? It is one of the things I toss around for my future...been a nurse for 19 years and still looking at all the areas I haven't worked and just wonder what I am missing

[aNYTrini-n-FLRN]

Hold you back? I don't think so. You will learn quite a bit. I started in ICU and went to PACU and then to the OR. You will learn so much to be able to teach your patients, not to mention the practical skills in wound care, and minor surgical techniques that you will be able to master when you become a NP. These skills are invaluable. I highly recommend the OR to anyone that will be working outside the hospital environment-or in the field one day.

I am a new grad and I applied to an OR position at John Hopkins with a bit of hesitancy because I was not sure what other positions can you float to with only OR experience. I love learning and do not mind starting out in the OR but I do know I want to experience other units, preferably critical care and ICU. Need advice.. HELP

[cdsga]

Most specialty units will require an internship and a commitment from you for at least one year or more. It takes about 2 years to feel somewhat comfortable in the OR because it is a lot of individual work unlike the ICU where you have a more open environment to ask for advice or have second opinions about your decisions regarding patient care. I would suggest you to start somewhere. I did it the other way-started in ICU and worked my way to where I wanted to be. The ICU training prepared me for anything-especially continual patient assessment. But today you may want to take a position where they are willing to take stock in you and your training. Good luck!