OR nurses or surgical technicians in Canada?

Fiona59 · Jun 13, 2009

OK, quick and dirty.

RN's can apply for OR jobs as new grads (at least in AB) and will be trained by the hospital.

LPNs can become Operating Technicians. (usually paid for by themselves at no expense to the employer) Trained in scrub and circulating role. Course is distance ed with a six week full time (unpaid) practicuum.

Surgical Techs as described in the US don't exist here.

linzz · Jun 13, 2009

In Ontario, some colleges which teach the OR tech course want the LPN to have two years work experience as an LPN. RN's are not required to do this in most cases. In Ontario, some hospitals will hire LPN's as scrub techs and others don't, just depends on the facility. I am not sure if LPN's (RPN's in Ontario) are doing circulating work yet.

From what I have heard some nurses love the OR and others hate it. Depends on the person and the work environment.

Good luck with your schooling.

psso · Jun 13, 2009

Thank you both. Is it common for RNs to do the circulating or scrub work?

Fiona59 · Jun 14, 2009

Depends on who's in the room. Some will circulate every chance they get and avoid scrubbing like the plague.

Some OR managers assign the jobs others leave it up to the staff. New staff scrub a lot.

psso · Jun 14, 2009

Thanks!

rockobam · Jun 29, 2009

hello,

i am an lpn from edmonton. the course was only offered at macewan college in edmonton. (www.macewan.ca)

i had an unique opportunity last august 2008. capital health (now called alberta health services) posted educational opportunities for new lpn grads.

i am not a new grad but i applied anyway.

i was accepted and classes started sept. 8/08. capital health paid for the whole thing.

the 6 mos. course was condensed into 7 weeks classroom and then 10 weeks practical. to receive your ort certificate you worked 420hrs at the designated or.

classroom and practical was paid as i was working full time.

i can be "scrub nurse" and "circulating nurse" but must always work in a or room with 1 rn in charge of that room. our new role added to assist the anesthetist.

there are different rules since scope of practice changes have not caught up with my or.

i can not starts iv's, i can not draw up meds with a fellow ort etc.

everything must be done like the old days on the floors....rn to check everything.

apply for porter in or to get a feel of it and after school apply as a new grad.

i like it so much that i will never return to the floors again.

good luck to you!

julz28 · Feb 16, 2012

Hi,

I'm an LPN from NB and i really want to take that program. I looked at www.MacEwan.ca and the study option was only distance and 3 years of study. Is there a way i can get in like you did and do the program in only 6 months??

let me know

Fiona59 · Feb 17, 2012

You are looking at the wrong couse. The ORT course is what is posted above. It's called something like peri-operative nursing for LPNs. The self study is at your own pace within a specified time frame (usually about six months)

AHS only offered the opportunity once. It's back to self financing and finding a preceptor to take you (MacEwan finds the preceptor in a local hospital).