New grad RN wants to work in OR!

[jujubee1]

Hi Everyone!

Just a quick question here. I am a new grad RN, just passed my NCLEX a couple of weeks ago and I want to work in the OR more than anything. On top of filling out online applications, I am considering sending personal cover letters and/or resumes to the hospitals via snail mail (am applying all over my state so It will be tough to go in person). I am wondering who the best person to address this mail to would be? Nursing recruiters, HR, or perhaps the OR manager?

Thank You! I appreciate it.

[daVinciNurse]

OR Director and/or OR Nurse Educator. Try joining your local chapter of AORN, check http://www.aorn.org for more info, that may help you network and/or meet nurses who can help you get started. Good luck!!

[jujubee1]

Thanks a lot for your reply. If the information is not readily available online is it appropriate to just call the facility and ask for the director/educator's name?

Also, in your experience have you seen many new grads hired right into the OR? Recruiters have told me that it is possible... but not the most common thing. I guess I'm just wondering what I am up against..

[odos]

What I did is I called HR and then asked direct contact information to the OR director or OR manager. That way you can get a feel from HR if the OR is hiring and with the direct contact information you can more easily get in touch with the OR department.

I was hired as a new graduate but it seems that it's not very common to do that. It depends on where you are applying. I was living in a smaller town so I think that helped. But once I moved to a bigger city I noticed that many hospitals were looking for experienced OR nurses. The hospital I work for now does not hire new graduates. It takes a while to train a new grad. I'd say the advantage of hiring a new grad is that you can mold a new grad more easily to the way things are done in a specific hospital. Although it's great to hire an experienced nurse, it can sometimes be difficult for the experienced nurse to unlearn some things and get used to another facility way of doing things.

I agree with Davincinurse. Look for a local AORN chapter and network. Show enthusiasm! and see if you can even set up a shadow day in hospital close to you. A lot of times you don't get that much exposure to the OR when you are in nursing school so contact an OR and explain that you'd like to see more. If you can't get hired in the OR then try another area and then see how possible it is to do a transfer to the OR. Good luck!

[jujubee1]

Thank you, I'm giving it my all!