OR nurse right off the bat?

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Hello to all OR nurses who really like their jobs,

I'm a student and have found out that I have the opportunity to go into the OR for my two-month preceptorship next year. I've been in the OR once to observe and really enjoyed the experience ... I really liked seeing the nurses and docs work as a team, and the operation itself (hip replacement) was really interesting. I'm trying to get more "observer" time now. But I ramble ... my question is this: do you think it would be wise to seize the OR preceptorship and go straight into OR nursing right away post-graduation? Nursing is a second career for me, so I don't have any qualms about specializing right away (i.e., I'm 34 and am eager to get started ASAP), or would it be better to wait, work med-surg a couple of years, and then try to do a post-grad OR program (even with the preceptorship I think I still have to complete a post-grad OR certification program) ... thanks to all.

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Go for it. I went into the OR after 7 months in trauma. If I would have, I would have gone right in after graduation. I was 42 when I graduated.

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Would they hire you as a new grad is the real question.

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

I think if you go back in the past threads you will find one that was started on this subject. In there you will find mine and many others. This subject really has alot of different opinions. Mike

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Go for it. I went into the OR after 7 months in trauma. If I would have, I would have gone right in after graduation. I was 42 when I graduated.

Really appreciate your reply -- thanks again!

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