OR/Perioperative Nursing Info Please

just_cause, BSN, RN · May 29, 2010

branch of service?

uniformed college has opportunity for the only cns w/ specialty (to my knowledge...) in perioperative nursing...

masters degree available as a 2 years stint in all branches after meeting certain time in grade requirements, applying and being selected, etc....

working conditions... variations by service and your specific assignment - broad question w/ broad answer... advancement is a bit branch specific but the opportunities go from company grade officer to general.... no limit is the answer.

Your background depending on time in full time status could enable you to enter above the 01 level or reduce first promotion time in grade requirement.

Overall I'd compare it to a standard OR nurse with military culture included.

Do you have a particular branch in mind?

Gottago · May 29, 2010

Thank you for the reply. I'm not focusing on any particular branch of service. Thought of the Army, but I'm wanting to hear from as many of the military branches as possible.

My question is broad mainly because I'm wanting any information from someone familiar with the duties and opportunities for an OR/Perioperative Nurse.

Another question would be, do OR nurses float to other areas when there are no cases, if their station is that of a hospital? Or, is that time spent preparing the OR, instruments, etc?

What about in Iraq, etc?

As for the masters program, I've heard that in order to advance in rank, in the Army, a masters degree is required...if I recall, someone told me it's required to advance to the rank of captain. Is that correct?

Thank you.

just_cause, BSN, RN · May 29, 2010

Your rank progression does not require or have any effect based on post-grad education.. perhaps when you go above field grade it would - but that is a very small percentage of officers... masters education opportunity can be a 2 year time where you are afforded pay, housing and tuition payments to go full-time to school get degree in order to better yourself, act as an incentive to stay in and then to bring back your acquired knowledge to better the army overall.. no impact on progression.. in fact through CPT the rank progression is virtually 99% of all eligibles are promoted... just a matter of 'time' to promotion. Promotion to Maj is 'just about the same'.... LTC and on will be competitive based on slots/manpower, force retention..

OR nursing will have a range of duties based on where you get assigned, type of unit.. they have some OR nurses that literally are with small surgical teams that are airborne and jump in... majority are standard hospital type OR nurses.. any position you might leave the OR and be in a leadership position... the thing is you don't always get to decide.. the progression is generally good for career but at the individual level you lose some choices to better the institution.

Gottago · May 30, 2010

"any position you might leave the OR and be in a leadership position... the thing is you don't always get to decide.. the progression is generally good for career but at the individual level you lose some choices to better the institution. "

Any position I might leave the OR and be in a leadership position?...I think I understand...this is one of those needs of the service things, correct?

"the progression is generally good for career but at the individual level you lose some choices to better the institution."

I don't understand this last statement. Could you please clarify? Is this regarding the being taken out of the OR, and put into a leadership position statement?

Thank you for the information.

just_cause, BSN, RN · May 30, 2010

"any position you might leave the OR and be in a leadership position... the thing is you don't always get to decide.. the progression is generally good for career but at the individual level you lose some choices to better the institution. "
Any position I might leave the OR and be in a leadership position?...I think I understand...this is one of those needs of the service things, correct?
"the progression is generally good for career but at the individual level you lose some choices to better the institution."
I don't understand this last statement. Could you please clarify? Is this regarding the being taken out of the OR, and put into a leadership position statement?
Thank you for the information.

On the last quote I just mean that the positions they would put you in might take you off the floor, which might be your person preference, and placed into leadership type roles, which though might not be some people's preference are still a positive direction or period of a future resume or overall experience.

Gottago · May 30, 2010

Thanks for the clarification.

I've done some more reading, and it looks like you were interested in some of the same questions awhile back...such as OR opportunities, first assist, etc., if you don't mind me asking...did you join the service as an OR nurse? If so, then how has your experience been? Anything you came across that you either didn't expect, never thought you'd encounter, or perhaps, didn't realize would turn out the way it did?

I know these are broad questions, but I'm just trying to get an understanding of life in the military as an OR nurse.

Also, if you have worked as an OR nurse in the military, then how is the working relationship with doctors and scrubs?

jeckrn, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2010

As far as your question about floating to the floor, the answer is no. Perioperative Nurses have a AOC of 66E and Med/Surg Nurses are 66H. Depending on the amount of time you have spent in the OR will determine if you would have to go to the Perioperative course or come in as a 66E vs 66H. When most people speak about the number of nurses being recruited they generally are talking about 66H's not 66E's which have a different quota.