I want to work in the OR

Specialties Operating Room

Published

I want to be a circulating nurse, it's why I returned to nursing school. I was unable to find a job in the OR when I finished school so I took a telemetry job. I've been on the floor for 2 years and it just not a good fit. It is not where I belong, I dread going to work, and often cry on the way home. I live within driving distance of 6 hospitals, and have applied to every OR job I have found, I'm a member of AORN. I haven't even gotten an interview.

I'm so frustrated and I'm ready to leave nursing altogether, in fact if I knew I that I was never going to get into the OR I would quit nursing tomorrow.

When I ask other nurses how to get into the OR I get comments like "Who knows, that specialty is a monopoly". How does one get into the OR?

Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

You might be a fit for the PACU. Try that and maybe some director will see the potential in you and give you a shot. Remember the PACU is only down the hall from the OR!

PS, sorry I didn't see the rest of the replies. Congrats welcome to the MONOPOLY!

Congrad!!! When I read you post, I was going to suggest that you try to apply for small surgery center position. But you got the OR job. Congrad again.

Hi, I was in your shoes 15 years ago...the local community college where I lived offers a 16 credit hour Perioperative nursing course, which I registered for on my own, and paid for myself. Taking that class opened doors! I made sure my instructors knew I was wanting to break into OR nursing, and halfway through the semester, I was approached by an instructor with a contact, which led to an interview, which led to a job! You might try something like that, at the very least it shows that you are not being passive about your desire to be a Perioperative nurse. You can do this, we need OR nurses!

Tiger 52

Congratulations! Tiger52

Specializes in OR.

Congrats, I hope you are liking your new job!

Hi Tiger52,

I will be starting nursing school this august and I've been analyzing a couple of specialties for a while now, that would possibly be potential good fits for me and my circumstances. And the more I've looked into OR nursing and constantly reflected on what I want, like, and how it fits in with my circumstances, the more OR nursing appeals to me. Which is why I've come to the conclusion that OR nursing is the specialty for me.

With that said, I've come across ur post where you talked about wanting to break into the OR nursing field and how you took a 16 credit hour Perioperative nursing course offered by your community college which opened doors for you as halfway through the semester, you were approached by an instructor with a contact, which led to an interview, which led to a job.

I was wondering how did you find out about the perioperative course ur community college offered? Did you take this course during nursing school? If so, when? I'm assuming you went through a ADN program at the community college where the course was offered?

I would like to take this course as well to help open doors for myself in the OR nursing field. I really would Do you have any recommendations as to when is the best time to take the perioperative course?

Anybody else have any recommendations? Or any other info that could be of use to me? Please feel free to share your experiences.

Thanks!

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Hi Tiger52,

I will be starting nursing school this august and I've been analyzing a couple of specialties for a while now, that would possibly be potential good fits for me and my circumstances. And the more I've looked into OR nursing and constantly reflected on what I want, like, and how it fits in with my circumstances, the more OR nursing appeals to me. Which is why I've come to the conclusion that OR nursing is the specialty for me.

With that said, I've come across ur post where you talked about wanting to break into the OR nursing field and how you took a 16 credit hour Perioperative nursing course offered by your community college which opened doors for you as halfway through the semester, you were approached by an instructor with a contact, which led to an interview, which led to a job.

I was wondering how did you find out about the perioperative course ur community college offered? Did you take this course during nursing school? If so, when? I'm assuming you went through a ADN program at the community college where the course was offered?

I would like to take this course as well to help open doors for myself in the OR nursing field. I really would Do you have any recommendations as to when is the best time to take the perioperative course?

Anybody else have any recommendations? Or any other info that could be of use to me? Please feel free to share your experiences.

Thanks!

First of all, as someone who hasn't started nursing school, I encourage you to keep an open mind. I went into nursing school thinking I wanted to work in peds or OB, and those turned out to be my least favorite experiences. You may find another nursing specialty will be your niche. Secondly, you may find any perioperative course you investigate may require an active RN license. And honestly, if you still want to go into OR nursing after you finish nursing school, the best method may be to find a residency program offered by a hospital where you will work rather than take a course that may not include hands on opportunities. Those hands on opportunities are what will reinforce the theory learned.

Hi Rose_Queen,

I will keep an open mind.

I do plan on finding residency program in the OR, but as far as the perioperative course, do you know of any that actually provide hands on experience? I would like to take this course early on if possible so that I have a better idea of what I'm getting myself into.

Btw thanks for answering my other question rose_queen.

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Hi Rose_Queen,

I will keep an open mind.

I do plan on finding residency program in the OR, but as far as the perioperative course, do you know of any that actually provide hands on experience? I would like to take this course early on if possible so that I have a better idea of what I'm getting myself into.

Btw thanks for answering my other question rose_queen.

I do not know of any courses that provide hands on experience. I applied for an OR position that included a 9-month orientation using AORN's Periop101 program. Speaking of, if you are truly interested in OR nursing, AORN does offer student memberships at a reasonable cost: Student Membership : Association of periOperative Registered Nurses

You said you applied for a position that included a 9 month orientation using AORN's Periop101 program. I just found about this organization and their course today while doing some more research into OR nursing.

Do I have to find positions/employers that use that program to have that length of orientation? Or do I just mention the course to my potential employer?

Did you start in the OR right after graduation?

Did you secure a residency program with the hospital u were going to work with before graduating? If so, how did you go about doing so?

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
You said you applied for a position that included a 9 month orientation using AORN's Periop101 program. I just found about this organization and their course today while doing some more research into OR nursing.

Do I have to find positions/employers that use that program to have that length of orientation? Or do I just mention the course to my potential employer?

The program was the standard orientation at my facility. We had some classroom time scattered here and there until the modules were completed and then the rest was purely clinical hands on experience. Other facilities may have their own structure through personalizing AORN's course. My orientation was 6 months with a preceptor followed by an additional 3 months working solo with a preceptor available for every two orientees as a resource. Since then, the structure has changed a bit by having all of the Periop101 modules within the first few weeks (2 classroom days per week) followed by the rest of the orientation program working with a preceptor and then working solo with a resource person. Each facility will have its own structure, but the orientation should definitely be a minimum of 12 weeks; longer would be better.

Did you start in the OR right after graduation?

I did, and I am still there, although I've rotated through several surgical specialties.

Did you secure a residency program with the hospital u were going to work with before graduating? If so, how did you go about doing so?

I graduated at the tail end of when hospitals were begging for nurses. I attended a job fair at the facility and was offered a job a few weeks later, after a panel interview with the nurse manager, a specialty coordinator, and a few staff nurses as well as a shadow day.

Rose_Queen,

So I do have to find OR's that work with the program right?

How were you able to secure specifically 9 Months of orientation?

Was it because that's how long the course was structured to last when taking it at a facility with a preceptor?

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