LPN's in the OR

[Comanche_1]

Hi there,

Please excuse my lack of knowledge. For those of you who don't know me which should be almost everyone, I have been working in EMS for the last few years so my nursing knowledge is honestly non-existent.

I would like to apply for my LPN (Im in Ab, Canada) this fall. I came accross this post and was curious as to whether or not LPNs can actually work in the OR? if they can what are usually their duties?

I would like to specialize in emerg/ a floor that I can use my current knowledge base and skills. As said before tho, I know nothing so its going to be a long set of obstacles I have to get over but I'm more than willing to work my butt off to get there.

[GunnabeORLPN]

Hello, I am a LPN in Alberta and I am currently taking a Operating Room Technician course with Grant MacEwan College. It is a course for registered LPN's to prepare for a role in the surgical environment. It includes a theory component of three months and a clinical component of three months. It is offered by distance delivery. If you want more information on the course the link is http://www.hcs.macewan.ca/health/lpn/operating/

Hope this helps and good luck!

[Comanche_1]

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH. OH MY GOSH, waw Thank you all for taking the time and effort to help me out. Since I realised I could no longer work as an EMT I have took a lot of interest into takin my LPN and be able to take a position in an OR. I cant thank you enough. You guys are fantastic! Thank you!

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Not that know of. If you want to work in the O.R., either become a scrub tech or an RN.

Well, now you know, LPNs do work in the OR in some places.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

I came accross this post and was curious as to whether or not LPNs can actually work in the OR? if they can what are usually their duties?

I'm just answering for being in the US and being in Virginia, but i do duties of a scrub tech, along with LPN-permitted duties. My job title is "scrub nurse, LPN" not scrub tech, but that's not how it is everywhere. It all depends on the facility, the state, the country, as to what an LPN does, be it on the OR or elsewhere.

As an LPN it's possible to work in an OR or some of the other areas of nursing. As a scrub tech, though, duties are pretty much limited to surgery only.

[ewattsjt]

this is what i have observed in my area:

lpns are used for surgery in here central indiana. however, there is a growing trend to use csts. the duties are synonymous and the titles are often interchanged on policies etc...(if you read the lpn job description and one for a cst, you can see that management only changed the initials in the policy). while csts are not used on the floor, they are used in physician offices the same way a lpn is used. most surgeons use rns or csts for private scrubs.

the largest demand and highest paid lpns here, work in nursing homes.

[Fiona59]

Your post just illustrates the differences between our two countries.

Up here in Canada, we are unionized and make roughly the same money whether we are in LTC or ative treatment. Specialty PNs (dialysis, ortho techs, and OR techs) make the union PN rate plus specialty pay.

[pinoyrn]

I was working as an LVN, when I noticed an in-hospital training for RNs and LVNs to work as Perioperative Nurses. I jumped on the opportunity and was selected as one of 4 nurses (3 RNs and 1 (me) LVN) trained to become OR nurses. We all trained for 3 months in the OR. Mornings were classroom instruction and afternoons were in the OR rooms. After the training, I basically worked as a scrub nurse, but was also became one of the nurses in charge of Neurosurgery. I scrubbed mostly Neurosurgery procedures and ended up training other nurses (RNs). I was in charge of the service when the RN i worked with went on vacation. This went on for four years, until I left to pursue my RN degree.

So, yes, you can work in the OR as an LVN/LPN.

If you have the time and resources, go for an RN degree.

Once I was an LVN, I found a school that had a program called LPN to RN Bridge Program and got my RN degree in two semesters. It was a very intensive program but all of us in the program passed!

[Comanche_1]

Hi there,

I ran into one of my partners this weekend who used to work as an LPN a few months ago. I was informed that yes as an LPN I can work in the OR which seems to be in high demand here.

I would have to take a 6 months course online once finished my LPN. Once that is done I can work as a scrub nurse, work directly with the docs in the OR.

Very exciting news.

[mikethern]

Anyone can become a scrub tech. You don't have to be an LPN. Some operating rooms will even train people on the job to be a scrub tech.

Most scrub techs are very good at what they do.

[ewattsjt]

i agree that if you have the time, go ahead and go for rn. there are more career opportunities and the pay is better. it is a worth while investment. if you do go for lpn/lvn, a lot of schools offer a bridge to rn that usually takes right at a year (well, in indiana it does).

if you do want to become a surgical tech; keep in mind that more and more facilities want csts which is a certification through the nbstsa. there are at least 3 states have current laws mandating certification of surgical technologists and seven others in the process of legislation. grandfathering for the cst title has already passed. so check it out before you jump into an ojt program for st. the facility where i work mandates certification. there is no state law concerning this.

[Fiona59]

Just wanted to add that this question is about nursing in Alberta, Canada.

Up here only LPN's can be trained as an OR Tech. We have our own certifications up here and it's not on the job training.

[cystoqueen]

I am a RN in the OR and we do have LPN's who are scrub nurses. Let me tell you, they are they worth their wight in gold.