Pediatric OR scrub nurse opportunities

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Specializes in Pediatrics.

I know there was a similar question posted recently (felt like I could have written it myself) so I apologize if it sounds like I'm copying! I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for children's hospitals that train their OR nurses to scrub. I'm open to all areas at this point. 

A little more background info (sorry if this might be long): I'm originally from Scotland and worked in the OR at a major children's hospital for about 4 yrs in the early 2000s. All nurses there scrub and circulate so I was at that time independent in both areas. I took a long career break, ended up in Washington and raised my kids. I've been an RN in the US for 4yrs now and back working in the OR for almost 2yrs. When hired I expressed an interest in learning to scrub and was told it might be possible but unfortunately it's not happening as we have so many STs. The RNs in my current place of employment that scrub were either trained in it many years ago or were STs prior to an RN and they don't scrub often. My ultimate goal (since I was a teen) is to spend time as an OR nurse on the Mercy Ship but they require current scrub skills. I prefer to work in pediatric OR as my nurse training in the UK was very specialized in pediatrics. I've looked at several other job opportunities but they just seem to be for circulator nurses. I feel it's time for me to move on from my current place of work (for a variety of reasons) and am willing to change states if it helps me achieve my goals. Even considering going back to the UK where I know I can get the experience I need (my previous employer has already said they'd be happy to have me back and retrain me). Is there anyone here that has volunteered on the Mercy Ship and can share how they learned scrub skills? Does anyone currently work in a pediatric hospital that train RNs to scrub?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

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