New Grad Operating Room or Ideal Image

[StringOR]

I have an opportunity to start as a new grad RN at Ideal Image. This job pays over $30/hr to start and seems very low stress (plus I would love to do laser and injection procedures). It would be working 5 days a week.

On the other hand, I have the opportunity to join two different perioperative training programs which both have a 3-year commitment. (these jobs start under $25/hr and require a lot of call time). The higher paying option would be working 2-8's and 2-12's where the lower paying option is more flexible with scheduling and call time.

Which would you choose and why?

[SpookyCat, BSN, RN]

StringOR,

I am newer to the nursing field. Because I joined the military as a new grad I had an opportunity to work on a med-surg floor for 1.5 yrs, a pain management clinic for a little under 2 yrs and the finally the OR (dream job) for 1.5 yrs. I just recently separated from the military in order to be with family. I am also planning to apply for an aesthetic RN position because of the perks of "no call," no night shift, and lesser stress of life/death/trauma situations. If I were in your position and I had an OR job available to me where the hospital was willing to appropriately train me with a periop 101 program, I would take it in a heartbeat. If you later decide that your dram job is actually in aesthetics, you can always go for it. Your OR experience will be extremely beneficial, IMO. However, if the aesthetic position is all that is available I would take it, stay at least a year for the experience and then look to apply for that OR job (at least a year looks nicer on your resume in comparison to "months.")

Also, I posed a similar question awhile back in OR nursing section of this site before I became an OR nurse. Explore the reasons why people choose the OR and if you identify with those, you may be more settled with your decision one way or another. I hope this helps. Best of luck to you!

[StringOR]

Thank you! I think you are right. The experience in the OR is invaluable and the aesthetic positions will be there in the future.

I am going to accept the periop 101 position at the level 1 trauma center.