OR circulating travelers

[RollingThunder]

Are there any of you who travel and only circulate cases in the OR? I'm six months into the job as a new RN and want to travel in the future. How limited will my future opportunities as a traveler be by not being trained to scrub?

This is actually a preface to an opportunity that I have accepted and will begin in July with my current organization to join their Heart Team (in which I will be trained to scrub). Which leads me to my second question. Are there any travelers out there that are specifically Heart Team oriented? The position that I will move to is an evening shift 2-10, M-F, with no weekends and no call. I would basically finish any scheduled heart cases and then be available to circulate other scheduled cases (most likely Ortho and Neuro) and any alpha or bravos that we may have come in.

I know that this sounds kind of confusing but I think that it is a great opportunity because I would wind up being one of the most versitile RN's on the unit (able to circulate any specialty and with Heart experience). I don't see how this could limit me, but do any of you guys see limitations to what I plan to do? Things are often more transparent looking from the outside in.

[suzanne4, RN]

Yes, there are travel positions that just require ciculating and not scrubbing.

But for any heart travel position, you will be required to take call. You are fortunate right now, you will be in training, and will not take call, but down the road, I will be very surprised if you do not. Heart do not wati until the next morning, if they are truly broken. Most facilites do not have a a full heart team in house on afternoons and night shift, you will work your regular day hours, and then be on the call schedule.

And for hearts, they are going to want a few years of experience under your belt.