OR nurse has some questions

Specialties Med-Surg

Published

Hey all-

I have some questions that I hoped would be answered here. I graduated from nursing school 4 years ago and went to the OR and completed an internship. I never recieved that good baseline of 1 year of med/surg. Is it still possible for me to get a position on a med/surg floor and work on some of those skills? Also, I hear a lot that med/surg and other areas of nursing frequently say, "OR nurses aren't real nurses". Is this something that is generally ageed upon? If so, why? Just curious thanks...

Specializes in Med-Surg, ICU.

1. For what it's worth, in my hospital and those surrounding me, it would not be a problem at all to switch over to a med-surg position--we're hurting for nurses. Your OR experience would probably serve you best and help you transition easiest on a pre/postop surgical floor where you would be handling all the common med-surg comorbidities that these surgical patients have while allowing you to continue to utilize your surgical knowledge to an extent with these same patients.

2. Yes, I've heard a few nurses say that "....aren't real nurses" garbage. Notice I didn't say OR nurses, because I've heard it applied to just about every type of nurse, school, occupational health, home health, and yes, more than once, med-surg. :smiley_abDon't know what's up with the bashing business--jealousy, frustration with current work situation--whatever, it's ridiculous. I couldn't walk into the OR and do what you do!:bow: The fact is we are ALL REAL nurses no matter what area we're in. It is hard enough to keep up with all the new advances within a specific speciality these days and no one is capable of knowing everything about every area of nursing.

3. So in a nutshell Shannon, whether you choose to venture into the wild wooly world of med-surg or continue to rock the OR...............do your thing, chicken wing and do it proudly!!!!!!!!!

Specializes in Cardiac, Hospice, Float pool, Med/Peds.

I worked in the OR at one point in my career and it is a different type of nursing for sure... But you did take the same boards as the rest of us and you can easily jump into floor nursing for sure... Good luck to you...

Specializes in Trauma, Education.

I am in the same boat and have worked in the OR for almost 3 years. I am considering going to med surg (I worked on a floor for 3 mos. after graduation-that was all I could take) only because I am now applying for my MSN in education and am finding that I won't be able to teach a whole lot in the university setting with 'just' an OR background.

I LOVE the OR though. I feel fortunate to have found an area in nursing that I love. I have also heard the 'real nurse' thing-even from surgeons. The way I see it is once I get myself back into med/surg, I can always float or return to my comfort zone. They always need people in the OR, so you will have an extra skill above and beyond your other nurses. I liked the recommendation to do surgical-I am looking into a trauma unit because that is my favorite specialty and I already know the docs. You have a real advantage in that sense and get a better/different relationship w/the docs than other nurses do outside of the OR and I have alot more courage now to stand up, make recommendations for pts and share what I think. Let me know how it goes-I am glad to see someone else in the same situation!!

rbs105

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