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Discussion

LPN wanting to work in the OR

Hello,

This is my first time posting on allnurses but I regularly read threads to help find answer to my questions.

At the moment, I work at the Gastroenterology clinic out of VGH and specifically I work with the Hepatologists to start and follow people on Hep C treatment. Also I am involved with clinical trials that deal with HBV, HCV, HCC, NASH, PBC, and PSC. I love my position as the Hep C nurse in the clinic but sitting at computers all day and talking to patient's over the phone majority of the time is starting to wane on me.

I've recently looked into trying to get my RN ticket but because I'm 10+years out of High School the hoops I would have to jump through are ridiculous. I would be looking at 6-7 years of full time post secondary school (I need pre-reqs to get into the pre-reqs that then would get me into the pre-req course that would get me into the 2 year course of the BsN program).

I've always been good with blood and gore and so I've been looking online and found out that LPNS can work in the OR. I was hoping someone could help me and guide me in the direction I need to start searching for LPNs to work as scrub nurses within BC.

Anything would help, thank you and all you LPNs rock! Way to be awesome! :)

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    • Admin

    By BC, do you mean British Columbia? It's quite likely different in Canada than in the US, where an LPN would be working in a role similar to the surgical technologist.

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    The job you are looking for is thatbof an OR Tech. You need to find out which school offers it. Here in AB it's through Grant MacEwan.

    Can you afford not to work for several months due to the preceptorship? Does your employing health authority offer it as an educational opportunity?

    You aren't limited to the scrub role, you also circulate.

    You have to work shift and take call. You will find a lot of type A personalities in that area of nursing. How do you react to constant criticism?

    Honestly, you either love or hate the OR. It's very limited patient contact.

    Most nurses I know would kill for your job

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    • Author

    Fiona59,

    I feel guilty for feeling this way because I know nurses (LPNs) would kill for this position I have worked very hard to get. I miss the daily hustle and the direct contact with patients that I used to get in retirement facilities.

    I contacted CLPNBC and they said that BC does not have any courses or schooling for OR techs in BC and that if I wanted to pursue this avenue I would have to move to AB.

    Thank you for your time in replying to my post.

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    No worries, we always think the grass is greener on the other side!

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    Do you want to be a certified surgical tech or an operating room nurse?? Because they are both different

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    An OR Tech is an LPN with post graduate education. They are qualified to scrub or circulate.

    NUrse Moore, do you realize that this a discussion concerning Canadian LPNs?

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