OR Nurse ..... yes or no?

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Specializes in OB/GYN - OR.

I have been looking into specializing in becoming a OB/GYN nurse but have also been interested in becoming a surgical / OR nurse. I wish to hear everyones good and bad on being a nurse in surgical/OR and Best and Worst about it. Thanks in advance

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I think that once you get into a school and go to clinical you will get a better handle on what will interest you. Many students start out wanting OB/GYN, PEDI, because they think it would be great and they LOVE babies....only to find out it isn't that great and happy all the time. I know of many who want to be ER nurses or flight nurses because it seems glamorous and exciting......until they get punched by a drunk or puked on during a flight in the close confines of the aircraft......very different in real life.

I HATED CRITICAL CARE in school AND I'm TERRIFIED of flying (or was).....but I spent 35 years as a critical care nurse and worked about 10 as a flight nurse...who knew!!!! I LOVED the OR in school and once took a OR job. I HATED not having windows never knowing what time of day it really was and wearing a mask 24/7 (ok an exaggeration) intolerable.

Time will tell you what you will like........ it might surprise you....Good Luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB/GYN - OR.

that makes all the sense. thanks! what area do you specialize in now?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm a scrub tech right now in school. I would say the coworkers and doctors I work with is the best part. The worst part is the long hours and never getting to sit down.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

I went straight into the OR after school, and almost 8 years later, I'm still here. I never even considered OR nursing until my last semester of school. I went in thinking I wanted to do either labor and delivery or peds. Then I was exposed to both of those specialties, and I absolutely hated them! What got me exposure to the perioperative area? My senior capstone was done in the PACU (I absolutely abhorred the idea of doing med/surg and opted for that when I didn't get my first two choices) and I also got to spend some time in the OR itself.

My advice to you: Don't go into nursing school with the preconceived idea that you will be a peds nurse or you will be a critical nurse or you will be a whatever nurse. Go in with an open mind, experience as much as you can, and make your decision afterwards. Even then, many nurses start in a specialty they think they'll enjoy only to find it's not what they expected. Nursing is full of opportunities to find what fits best for you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I started in the OR in '98 as a scrub tech and went to nursing school a year later. I love the OR and what I do. I have worked at both a teaching hospital and a private hospital so I've seen both ends of the rainbow. In private hospital settings, it's all about time which equals money. At the teaching hospital (where I've been since 98) it's more of a slower pace because of the residents that come through. The only drawback I would consider is that the OR is ALL I know so it would be difficult for me to transition into another department if I wanted to leave the OR.

My advice don't wear your heart on your sleeve.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
My advice don't wear your heart on your sleeve.

I agree with this! The OR at times can be a brutal place to work so if you get your feelings hurt easily or can't let things go, it may not be the place for you. We have a girl who will shut down if one little thing happens and she can't function the rest of the day. Seriously. She is being STRONGLY encouraged to find another unit to transfer to.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I love all of the great advice you are getting. But being someone who is "sensitive," I have learned how to deal with it. You will come to realize whose comments are important and move on! Such is life. ?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment