How do I get my foot in the door. OR

Specialties Operating Room

Published

  1. What should I do to get my foot in the door?

    • Send email to Manager of OR?
    • 0
      Apply for Surgical Tech position

4 members have participated

I am a Medical Assistant working as a Patient Care Technician on a Joint/Ortho floor. I am currently in Nursing School and should finish school Dec. 2013. I would love to work in the OR. I was wondering if anyone has some helpful tips to get my foot in the door. Maybe Surgical Tech??

Argo

1,221 Posts

Specializes in Peri-Op.

You need schooling and certification to be a surgical tech.

raqi89

39 Posts

i wouldn't go from RN to surgical tech. thats a waste of nursing school. there are OR nurses

Editorial Team / Admin

Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN

6 Articles; 11,662 Posts

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Surgical techs have their own specialty and education. While many programs may offer an associate's degree, the education is very unlike nursing. Also, keep in mind that most places will pay much less for a surgical tech than for a nurse. STs have a salary cap right around where RNs start where I work. Also, an RN will have much more flexibility as they can move to different units, while STs are pretty much OR or maybe L&D for c-sections.

Ways to get your foot in the door include working as a pt care assistant in the OR. It's not a glamorous job and doesn't always include a lot of pt contact, but it will help you make contacts and networks within the OR. You can also look at joining AORN as a student nurse and networking there as well.

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