new rn

shodobe · Feb 8, 2006

Those areas are just fine. I am from the "old" school that believes a little time spent on M/S will only benefit you down the road. There are those here that believe straight out of school is OK, I disagree. There have been many threads on this subject, so do a search and I am sure your answer will be there. Good luck

MS*OR*RN · Feb 8, 2006

I agree, I think everyone should work on a floor/unit before coming to the OR. It can be a tough environment to work in. The floor/unit can teach you so many things.

I also think that sometimes it is easily forgotten how hard it can be to work on those floors/units. It makes you learn prioritization and hones your problem solving skills.

Elizabeth19 · Feb 8, 2006

What do you mean "Old school" and that m/s will only benefit you down the road? I really love the OR and as a fresh graduate I am looking at many areas which can prepare me for the OR in the future. I need advices from experienced OR nurses! thanks

MS*OR*RN · Feb 8, 2006

My backgroung is from tele/stepdown/interventional cardiology. I never really spent anytime on M/S floor.

Elizabeth19 · Feb 9, 2006

that's great, I've just been accepted in telemetry. so you would say its a good area to work if you plan to go to the OR? thanks

shodobe · Feb 10, 2006

Is 30 years in the OR enough experience? I also spent close to a year on a M/S floor along with a little time in the ER plus worked 6 years as a Paramedic. Working M/S will help down the road because I can spot a new grad in the OR without even trying. There are things you learn in M/S that ONLY could be learned there. lab results and what they mean to surgical patients, patient assessments that only relate to surgical patients. It is hard to explain until you have been doing this for awhile and see new grads just miss obvious problems with their patients. I even get tired of having to point out misses to the nurses on the floors just because they lack experience. Old school means just that, you only could go into specialized areas only after spending a min of one year M/S. That was the way it was when I started long ago and I still believe in it, sorry. Today with so many people wanting to specialize hospitals are laxing up the requirements and really making it harder on patients. Just my 2cents worth, not really worth even that!

MS*OR*RN · Feb 10, 2006

Tely can be a very fast paced place and you will learn a lot, A lot of hospitals will not take a new RN there either. Learn this special area not like you are going to be leaving soon, but as if this is the only thing that you want to do. If you have the attitude that you are only there bidding your time the other more experienced RN's will pick-up on it and it can be tough.

Good Luck:nurse:

mgrn88 · Feb 11, 2006

I agree with shodobe and MS*OR*RN…I too am from the “old school”(30 yrs experience---- med/surg-diaylsis-ICU-CCU-OR-PACU-Cath Lab-in that order)….and believe that a new grad should start out on a med/surg unit---learning to prioritize, assessing body systems, understanding labs, pain control, medications, treatments, when to call the doctor…are just a few of the things that come to mind….that will prepare you for a speciality area…IMO :-)

davinci1 · Feb 11, 2006

I am an OR nurse, and I have mixed feelings on the "fresh our of school" OR nurse. Many OR's won't take new grads, but in today's hospitals, the shortage is affesting us too. There just isn't enough people applying for the OR anymore. I work with a woman who has been an OR nurse since graduating 6 years ago, and she does a great job. I haven't come across many areas that she lacks in because she never worked the floor, maybe just a couple of very minor things. Most people either were MS or critical care nurses, such as myself. I'm glad that I worked the unit first. I understand telemetry and hemodynamics better, and feel more confident that I can take care of my patient if, heaven forbid, something goes wrong.

Another thing is, after working on the floor, you appreciate the OR much more. You'll have bad days, like anywhere else, but you know that everyday could be worse! If you love the OR that much, look for a hospital in your area that is accepting new grads. They will have it listed in the Sunday paper, or you can call HR and ask them. Hope this helps!

Pitbullgirl · Feb 11, 2006

I'm a new RN, just graduated in December and I accepted an OR internship at a Level 1 Trauma Hospital that starts in March. I understand many people feel you should get med-surg or other nursing before coming to the OR, and I respect their opinion. I do think if you are going to the OR as a new grad that you should have a thorough internship. My hospital provides a very good 6-month internship, mainly circulating, and a 3-month orientation to scrubbing later on.

In addition, I think it also depends on the person and their individual background. I'm older and not so intimidated by people/situations, and I have 2+ years working in the same hospital's ED as a tech and did a semester as a student nurse in our Trauma ICU. It's like working in my hospital's ED--they also accept new grads, and some of the nurses are very against this policy. I've seen new grads do very well, and I've seen experienced med-surg and/or critical care nurses fall apart. And visa-versa.

I think you need to be honest with yourself and your strengths/weakness, and if you still feel up to the task, be sure the area has a solid orientation. Just my 2cents.