New Grad Looking for OR Job/Training Program

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I am about to graduate from nursing school and my ideal field of work is in the OR. I do realize experience and extra training is preferred in order to do this. However, I would ideally want to skip the "2-3 years of experience" in med-surg and would love to get into a program at a hospital that is willing to training me for several months before working as an OR nurse at the facility. My question is: how competitive is it to get into these types of programs/internships/preceptorships? I really think this field is my passion and want to start in it ASAP instead of having to get years of experience first. Thanks!

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

While there are some facilities who will accept new grads into OR orientation programs, these programs tend to be competitive and may also come with a contract- this orientation, which can last 6-9 months, is extremely expensive for hospitals to provide and they do want to ensure they at least break even on the expense.

Look for positions that accept new grads. Be willing to relocate or commute, but realize that with commuting you may need to make arrangements for on call time- response times can be as short as 15 minutes (next county's cardiac team) or as long as 30 minutes (my facility as well as the other facilities in the county) although others may be different.

However, realize that in this employment market in many areas, you may not be able to get your first choice of specialty. My facility, until a recent staffing change, only saw openings when a nurse retired. With the new staffing model, those retiring nurses aren't being replaced until we reach a critical low and at this point there are no openings. You may find you need to accept any job you can get- this would allow you to establish an employment history and give access to internal job postings. Another thing you can try is joining AORN and attending meetings to network.

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I was hired as a new grad right into the OR

They did want us to sign 4 year contracts (since the training is so extensive) (of course they just told us that and never followed through on it)

They're definitely very competitive though. Especially because hospitals would MUCH MUCH MUCH rather hire someone with experience into the OR.

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Specializes in OR Hearts 10.

We are hiring new grads & transfers of RNs without OR experience. IMO it's really been nice getting new blood with fresh perspectives. Good luck.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.

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Thanks for the information! In my current situation I would gladly take a decreased paycheck/sign a contract if it means I am able to get into an OR program right away. I joined AORN a few days ago and am started to inquire about my current goals/attending meetings to network. I know it may be difficult and unrealistic to ask, but considering that I have never worked in the healthcare field before and that I will be a new graduate very soon, do I have any realistic chance of getting into any of these programs? My dad is a doctor, and I've shadowed him and many of his surgeon friends/nurses before so I do have a pretty solid network already (My sister and 3 of my cousins are also current nurses). Any information would be great. Thanks again!

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Hey thanks for the information. If you don't mind me asking; what hospital/facility hired you? I won't necessarily apply to the same place, but I just want to find more information on what facilities have to offer in general regarding OR programs. Also, did you have a very impressive resume or great interview to get into the program? I know many nurses, doctors, and surgeons practicing today so I feel like i have a pretty solid network I can refer to for job openings, but I'm just trying to find out how realistic it is that I can get in. I replied to someone else, but I would be 100% willing to take a decreased paycheck as well as signing a contract if that means I can get into the OR right away post-graduation.Thanks again!

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Hey Sandra, thanks for the information! Would you mind telling me what facility hires these RN's without experience? I'm just trying to find out more information about possible programs I can look in to.

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Hey thanks for the information. If you don't mind me asking; what hospital/facility hired you? I won't necessarily apply to the same place, but I just want to find more information on what facilities have to offer in general regarding OR programs. Also, did you have a very impressive resume or great interview to get into the program? I know many nurses, doctors, and surgeons practicing today so I feel like i have a pretty solid network I can refer to for job openings, but I'm just trying to find out how realistic it is that I can get in. I replied to someone else, but I would be 100% willing to take a decreased paycheck as well as signing a contract if that means I can get into the OR right away post-graduation.Thanks again!

Honestly its about the right place at the right time.

My place didnt hire us because of anything other than the fact that they had mandatory retirement packages and the OR was losing a bunch of people.

Since then the OR has lost a ton more people and has become desperate so they cant afford to hire new people, and instead are only hiring people with experience.

Opportunities are definittely out there,

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Specializes in Operating Room.

It all depends on timing and location. In my last semester of nursing school we have a practicum/110 hour internship with partnering hospitals in three main areas- med-surg, ER, and CCU and we rank them from the first choice to last choice. I had one year (two semester of med/surg) already, I was afraid to even set foot in to the ER since I've never had any exposure, and CCU made me too sad. I had one day to shadow the OR during my med-surg clinicals so taking a leap of faith I drew a line across the choices and wrote OR beside my name. At the time the clinical coordinator stated the hospital does not have any slots in the OR and I need to rank the three choices but a few days later the OR management from local hospital contacts the nursing school for two practicum slots in the OR. I ended up getting one of the slots in the OR. I enjoyed my practicum and the experience reinforced my desire to work in the OR. The nurse educator suggested I apply to be a nurse tech in the OR so I can continue what I am doing and get some money in my pocket after I was done with my 110 hours. The paperwork to hire me didn't go through until last week of the semester. So after graduation I worked as a nurse tech and studied for the NCLEX. Once I passed they immediately filed paperwork for me to transfer as a RN in the OR. This year another student did her practicum in the OR but since RNs are appropriately staffed according to management they have not hired any new nurses since November. Try to see if you can take the Peri-op 101 training independently. It'll help you in the OR setting because you don't learn much of the OR in nursing school and can give you the extra edge.

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Specializes in Peri-Op.

Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend has a program for new grads posted currently. There are 5 slots I believe. It's in Springfield OREGON

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