New OR RN...which team should I choose???

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I have been an ICU nurse for the past 2 years, Neuro ICU to be more specific. And I hated it. So now I'm making the transition to become an OR. I'm really excited to start in a few weeks. Orientation will be 6 wks long, compared to the mere 12 wks I had for the ICU, not to mention that I was a new grad when I started in the ICU. Anyway, during orientation I get to decide which OR team I get to be on, like Neurosurgery, Ortho, Peds, Plastics, etc....and during the interview process I actually got the chance to observe a Neurosurgery. It wasn't all that thrilling but interesting enough. I want to know what are the best and worst cases to circulate on so I have an idea as to which team I may pick

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Specializes in OR.

I think you need to see for yourself which you will like the best, it is very difficult to speak to someone else's preferences.

Ortho is one of my favourite specialties as it has so much variation if you are including spine, trauma etc.

The other specialty that I love is open and laparoscopic urology.

Good luck in your new career path, I hope you find it interesting and challenging.

By the way, did you really mean only 6 weeks orientation (6 months would be a good start) :yes:

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Like 4_Sq said, what we like or don't like will most likely be different from your likes/dislikes. Rotate through each specialty before you make a choice. I used to think I wanted neuro. Started in gen/vasc (not given a choice), then moved to all specialties when I became a full-time evening shifter, and now I do exclusively cardiothoracic, which has turned out to be my true niche in the OR.

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Oh yes, I did mean 6 months. Thanks for the advice. Im so excited to start!

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine and Surgery.

Ive been an OR nurse for 7 years, starting on a neurosurgery team. I quickly learned that that was not my area, as I found it very repetitive. I love vascular and trauma.I am now on an ortho team and love that too. I vote for a new person in the OR to get a good base of a general/vascular procedures and then grow from there. Good luck in your new career!

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We had to do them all. Many smaller hospitals don't have specialized teams, you should try them all if you can.

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I have to agree with others. What you think you might like going in - may not be your preference once you've experienced it. My 1st choice when I started - was one thing. After going through all of our service lines - it wasn't the same choice. To be fair, what I thought would be my first choice ended up my second choice...but still. Approach it with an open mind, you may just be surprised! :)

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Specializes in OR.
I have to agree with others. What you think you might like going in - may not be your preference once you've experienced it. My 1st choice when I started - was one thing. After going through all of our service lines - it wasn't the same choice. To be fair what I thought would be my first choice ended up my second choice...but still. Approach it with an open mind, you may just be surprised! :)[/quote']

Agree! I thought neuro sounded so "cool" but so much to do to track tissue and bone etc only see a crani every now and then

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

When I first started in the OR, my background was in GYN/ONC and PACU.

I thought that I would fall in love with GYN surgery since I cared for these pts post-op.

Um...no.

Standing for a couple of hours scrubbed in while holding retractors at an odd angle for a vag hyst still brings back nightmares.

You will find your love once you rotate through every service. It's important to keep an open mind, and consider a few things while you are rotating:

1. Observe the cohesiveness of each team. Do they like to work together? Does their team leader support them? Do they tend to do favors for one another, such as give breaks to each other, trade shifts with other team members?

2. How do the staff members react to the surgeons? Do you observe a "teamwork" environment, or do you see a "push/pull" effect?

3. Are the members of the team accepting of you, or do they act like they are in high school...meaning exclusive.

4. Is your preceptor truly making time to teach you the ins and outs of their service, or are they just brushing you off?

All of these questions are pertinent when choosing a team. You will be able to identify the "personality" of each team as you rotate through each service. If you love the service, and hate the milieu of the team, skip it. You will be miserable. If you love the team and don't really enjoy the service, give it a second thought. I've found that great co-workers and a strong team leader are more valuable than being head over heels about the service.

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I've enjoyed ENT and plastics a lot

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I just started training in the general surgery team which consist of bariatrics, mastectomy, cancer related, GI, etc...its going well so far. I'm not a fan of orthopedic and I was an orthopedic nurse because I didn't like the smell plasticy cement, I don't think its safe to breathe it in....I'm not a fan of surgeries with a lot of x ray since I don't want too much radiation...

I haven't seen other specialties what are some that I won't like?

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Specializes in Operating room..

I love ortho...I have also been on open heart...general, etc. I do not care for gone, cysto, never did much neuro and don't care to. Still love ortho the best though! Try each and don't be afraid to switch!

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