Published Jul 30, 2017
YoYosama, BSN
24 Posts
Hello nursing community, I come to you with a question and ask for your words of wisdom! I am a BSN student, I have a year left, two if I decided to go part time and have my hospital pay 1/3 of my schooling. Anyways, I have been a CNA long enough to know how burnout and dreadful bedside nursing is. I am a float CNA at my hospitals, yes hospitals. I have been to almost all of the floors and they all seem to be the same. Crazy and chaotic. You know the deal. With that being said, I am just being honest with myself. I really don't see myself doing well as a floor nurse. I recently did my OR/Cath lab clinical, and OMG, I love it! It was interesting and the nurses were calm and collective. They seem to be a tight group with the surgeons. It was pure harmony. That interested me in being an OR nurse.
Here is what I was told by a few random nurses. They said that I would lose nursing skills such as assessment and medications. They told me to be a generalist, be a floor nurse then I can specialize. I can't even handle craziness as a float CNA. I get stressed out and irritated when I get pull 20 different directions. I DO NOT want to be like that as a nurse and ended up leaving this profession and go back to the lab which was my first career. Any advice?
Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN
6 Articles; 11,936 Posts
Many years ago it was almost a set in stone requirement to complete a year or two of med surg before hospitals would consider nurses for positions in other specialties. Now, depending on the job market and the connections they've made during clinical experiences and other networking opportunities, they may be able to get a position in a specialty. I advise checking out the OR forum, particularly my thread titled ask us anything: what we do and how to become one of us under either the articles tab or FAQ tab.
shibaowner, MSN, RN, NP
3 Articles; 583 Posts
Johns Hopkins Bayview hired new grad RNs for their OR program. They provide extensive training in return for a 2 year commitment. I'm sure there are other programs like this. Do what you want! Good luck.
GadgetRN71, ASN, RN
1,840 Posts
Hello nursing community, I come to you with a question and ask for your words of wisdom! I am a BSN student, I have a year left, two if I decided to go part time and have my hospital pay 1/3 of my schooling. Anyways, I have been a CNA long enough to know how burnout and dreadful bedside nursing is. I am a float CNA at my hospitals, yes hospitals. I have been to almost all of the floors and they all seem to be the same. Crazy and chaotic. You know the deal. With that being said, I am just being honest with myself. I really don't see myself doing well as a floor nurse. I recently did my OR/Cath lab clinical, and OMG, I love it! It was interesting and the nurses were calm and collective. They seem to be a tight group with the surgeons. It was pure harmony. That interested me in being an OR nurse. Here is what I was told by a few random nurses. They said that I would lose nursing skills such as assessment and medications. They told me to be a generalist, be a floor nurse then I can specialize. I can't even handle craziness as a float CNA. I get stressed out and irritated when I get pull 20 different directions. I DO NOT want to be like that as a nurse and ended up leaving this profession and go back to the lab which was my first career. Any advice?
I belong to the second school. The OR is its own beast. There are often Periop 101 programs that will take new grads and train them into the OR. The orientation for a new OR nurse is usually about 6-9 months and in some facilities up to a year. The OR likes new blood, blank slates usually adjust better and they are free of bad habits and preconceived notions.
I have also had friends who did the floor first and then when the two years was up, their current manager didn't want to lose them, so they received a lukewarm reference. Asking floor nurses what they think of the OR can be tricky. Many don't know what we do or they may be resentful.
I have been a nurse for 11 years and have spent my whole career in the OR. I love it. What I would recommend for you is to see if you can get some more shadowing days or try to find a job as a nurse intern in the OR, to make sure you truly like it. If the answer is yes, then go for it.
Good luck! We need more OR nurses, especially males.
Green Tea, RN
138 Posts
I got a year of Med-Surg experience first and then moved to OR. I feel I should have chosen OR from the first time (and my hospital hires new graduates into OR.) I think I would never work on Med-Surg again. If only Med-Surg jobs are available, I would just leave nursing all together.
I have met more than handful OR nurses who have worked only in OR in their career. They are great nurses. I enjoy working with them.
Thanks for the replies, sorry i forgot my passwords and cannot get on until now.... I spoke with an OR nurse at my hospital. She was an ICU nurse for over 10 years, she hated the floor and got burnout. She said OR was extremely easy and a lot less stress. This is exactly what i am looking for. I dont want to have my head cut off running around on the floor. My hospital hires new grad and is at staffing crisis, I am sure i will get a job there since i go to school there (hospital nursinng base program).