Nurse Transfer?

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

How do things usually go for nurses with experience tranfering in? What about experience in other areas of nursing, but not OR?

I've applied for an OR position, and am very excited and hope I get a call back for an interview, but since it is something I haven't really been exposed to since nursing school, I am nervous as well. I am afraid I will go to the interview with a lot of misperceptions and make myself seem like a fool instead. I'm hoping to talk to a former coworker who returned to a position in the OR to get some info so I have a clear head before an interview (if I get one)!

Thanks!

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

Last call for words of advice or encouragement!

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If you get an OR interview, they will not expect you to have any OR experience. You do have an advantage over a new grad, however. Any nursing work experience is better than being a new grad.

Are you good under pressure? If so, tell them so. Tell the, that you work well under stress. They will ask you why you want to work in the OR. Give them an honest answer.

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Specializes in OR.

Good team work & prioritization skills are other must-haves for OR nursing. Also having a little technilogical know-how. There are hundreds of different pieces of equipment you may have to run & trouble-shoot. They asked me at my interview if I could program a VCR. I couldn't but you bet your a$$ I told them yes :D

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Outpatient Pediatrics, IBCLC.

Hey Aneroo!

I'm looking at transferring to the OR as well. I just had my interview yesterday, and I'm waiting to hear back! Where I interviewed, they seemed very willing to train (the orientation is 6 months) and they also said to me "if you find out it's not for you, that's ok." I think maybe since OR is such a different type of nursing, some people just don't know if they like it till they actually do it!

They asked me how I deal with conflict and mentioned that there are "strong personalities in the OR." I just said that I'm able to get along well with many diff types of people. They wanted to hear that I was flexible, since you must take call and all that jazz. They also seemed to just assume that I knew NOTHING about OR nursing and just laid it all out for me, so don't be too nervous about that. Good luck, let us know how everything goes!!! :wink2:

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Specializes in OR.
They asked me how I deal with conflict and mentioned that there are "strong personalities in the OR."

:chuckle That's a nice way of saying we're a bunch of cranky wenches :D

Good luck to you both. I've been in the OR for two years now and I have no regrets what-so-ever. I love my job :redbeathe

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Specializes in Family Medicine, Outpatient Pediatrics, IBCLC.

Haha nah MamaCheese, I like me some strong personalities!!! Makes the work day more interesting hehe. I'm glad to hear bout how much you love your job!!!

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

Thanks everyone!

I still haven't heard anything, but I am waiting on the nurse recruiter. It's a busy time of year for her, I'm sure, and she is out of the office until Monday. My husband has applied also, and the recruiter sent the info to several managers to set up interview times, so hopefully I'll hear back.

I think I can handle strong personalities. I worked in the ER at the same hospital (we're moving back to the region), and we dealt with the trauma team a lot (who had some of the strongest personalities I've seen).

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