My OR experience is in a very specific outpatient specialty... HELP

[NamasteSarah]

Hi! I have a year of experience as an RN in an outpatient vascular access center as an scrub nurse and circulating nurse. I am very proficient in maintaining a sterile field, aseptic technique, and circulating. However, my problem is that it is a very, very specific field and not in a hospital setting. Does this put me at a disadvantage since I only do procedures specific to vascular access? I want to travel as an RN, and my specialty is technically OR..

[ORoxyO]

It is a very limited experience, but you never know. Apply anyway. Travel nurses need to be adaptable, so I would emphasize your ability to be a quick learner.

I have a similar experience. While I did train in a large OR with all specialties, I have been working in a strictly ortho hospital for many years. I wanted to broaden my horizons "just in case" so I took a contingent job in a different large OR that does all specialties. While I had to learn all the different equipment, they were still happy to have my experience. So give it a shot!

If you can't find a travel position right away, I would recommend doing like I did and picking up some hours at a large hospital to get your feet wet in all specialties. That will beef up the resume.

[NamasteSarah]

Thanks! I was thinking PRN in OR for a while to get used to acute OR setting

[scrubnurselife]

I'm a travel OR nurse. It would definitely benefit you to have a broader range of experience. That said, we have another traveller starting soon who has only done ortho, so it's possible. You may find it harder to land your first assignment, but once you start getting assignments, it will boost your portfolio. And I agree with Roxy, ability to learn and be adaptable is key.

[target98765]

When you are a travel OR nurse, they expect you to hit the ground running. Another words, since you are getting top dollar they are not there to train you. We have had many travelers in our OR, and we are fast paced and the management expect you to do one day of orientation and then the next day you are expect to function independently. And we are an all specialty, super busy OR. You could try PRN, but again, for this position in our hosptial they want experienced OR RNs that they don't have to train because they are getting per diem rates which are much higher than your staff nurse. Good Luck!!