OR nursing

Bevie · Jun 1, 2000

Originally posted by dcuson:
I'm graduating soon. I am really interested in many areas and OR is on of them. I've heard good stories and bad ones. Anyone suggest going into it? How's the pay? hours? etc.?

I have been in the OR for 10 years now and can honestly say I would never consider working anywhere else again. If you think that's where you want to be, find a place to let you spend some time in the OR to get a feel for it. At my facility the pay is the same across the house for all RN's. OR nurses have call hours which can be a drag but it's also where you make the big bucks. Our range for RN's is $15.89 to $23.59 per hour. You get $1.50/hr for being on call plus time and one half for any time you are called in to work. The environment offers a lot more autonomy than floor nursing and the staff and physicians can form a close knit group. There are ups and downs in nursing no matter where you work. It can be stressful and the hours can be long but it can also be very rewarding. Find an OR that is happy to teach new nurses and bring them into the OR family. Unfortunately there are still places that eat their young. Feel free to call me for further info if you like. Bevie Swanson, Director Surgery, Great Plains Regional Med. Center, North Platte, Nebraska 308-535-7468, or email me at [email protected].

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Bevie Swanson