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Discussion

learn to scrub?

I'm a relatively new RN and I really want to work in the OR. Long story short, but I couldnt find a job right away, so I took the first thing that came along. I work on a surgical floor in a teaching hospital, and I know I'm getting excellent experience. So I'm telling myself that I will stay with floor nursing for at least a year, but then I want to seriously try to get into the OR. I remember at the hospital where I had clinicals, the RNs didnt scrub, only circulated. But where I work now, the RNs also have to learn to scrub. I know the OR can be intimidating to work in, and having to learn 2 roles in a new environment can make it even more of a challenge....so my question to those who work in the OR, should I spend the time/money and learn to scrub before I get into the OR? I know its not a requirement, but it might make me more competitive. I'm really torn because taking those classes will be time consuming and I dont want to feel like I wasted my money if I dont really need to.

Besides learning to scrub, any other advice on how I can get my foot in the OR?

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    Apply for every or job you see even if it asks for experience. When you get an interview seem ready, willing and able as well as eager.

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    I accepted a scrubulator position with no experience doing either (I, too, came from a surgical floor). I did not take a scrub tech class beforehand, though I had taken in college a periop elective. I was *vaguely* familiar with things in the OR, but really, all of my training came hands-on in the OR after I got the job. I spent an afternoon with my educator going over sterile technique (gowning and gloving and whatnot), basic instruments, prepping, and draping. After that it's been pretty much learning as I go, case-by-case. I suppose a scrub tech class would be helpful, but I don't think it's required. I don't regret not having taken one.

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    You should try to find a perioperative courses offered at colleges. They usually have clinicals---it can go on your resume, looks very good, and then u might be able to get hired where u did your clinical. My sister did that. She can give you some insight. Her name is OR/GI Nurse Lisa :)

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    If you can take a PeriOp 101 class from the AORN you will learn what you need to know. I think investing the time and money in a Surgical Tech. class is a little much. They actually learn a lot and it's not a short program.

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