NP in the OR

[birdie22]

Hello everyone! I know these jobs are few and far between, but I was wondering if any of you have experience working in the OR as an NP. Do you have your FNP or ACNP? Do you think it matters which speciality you choose? Do you work in a community hospital or teaching hospital with residents? Do you work with a specific MD or were you hired by the hospital? I currently work in the OR and love it, but I'm thinking about going back to school and I'm wondering which path would be best. Appreciate any insight! Thanks!

[offlabel]

Lots of NPs work in the OR...they see patients in pre and post op clinics, admit patients, discharge them...Get a job with a surgeon and that's what you'll do.

But you'll work surgeon's hours too in many cases.

[gelli.25]

You may be more marketable if you get your RNFA as well, if you want to work intraop.

I have a coworker who's doing her RNFA while applying to NP school, FNP.

[MallysMama]

All of the NPs in my hospital that work in the OR are ACNPs. Some questions you'll want to consider:

Does an FNP program prepare one to work in a perioperative setting? Could you get clinical experience in the OR from an FNP program? And does the area you live in have a preference for who they hire in inpatient settings?

You can also check with your state board of nursing to see if they have a statement regarding what's required to fill that role. (Some states require RNFA and some don't.)

[pro-student]

If you want to work in the OR, RNFA is definite something you need/want behind you name. As far as NP specialty, that really only matters if you'd also be providing the surgical patient APN-level services outside the OR (pre/post-op, writing orders, follow-up). Since RNs who are not NPs/APNs can and do work as RNFAs, the specialty you choose for NP really just determines the population you're covered for outside the OR (I.e - AGNP only adults, FNP all ages, PNP kids, ACNP acute care patients).

Nurses with the RNFA + NP credentials are trending up especially in private surgical practices since the really help extend and maximize the surgeons' time. Teaching hospitals, not so much (unless the have no surgical programs which is rare). The job you'd be doing is exactly what interns and junior residents are competing for.

[NickG, MSN, APRN]

My wife is an NP (ACNP) working for the Trauma service in a Level 1 teaching facility. She gets OR time, no RNFA. She expressed interest to her attendings and they took her in. The more interest she had, the more they took her in. Hers might be a unique case, but many of the NP's in the various surgical specialties scrub in on a regular basis, along with the residents.

[mommy.19, MSN, RN, APRN]

I'm an APRN-CNS and will be accepting a position with a surgical group who is paying for my formal RNFA training in order to become certified and bill for my services. Teaching hospitals are the only facilities that do not allow billing for first assists (due to residents often filling this role).

[Alicia777, MSN, NP]

I'm a FNP, RNFA in a specialty. Surgical assisting, rounding on inpatients, occasionally admit from ER and discharge our day surgery and inpatients. I love it! No call, no weekends or holidays. I work 4 days-buts it's sort of flexible depending on our weekly census.

I started in the OR as an RN as well. I work at a satellite of a large teaching hospital but only some of the services have residents. I was hired by the hospital so I occasionally assist with other specialties as well..

[Crunchtime]

if you really wanted to be NP in the OR, go for RNFA program. That will best suit u as a NP in the OR. But you will be competing with the PA's.