PDXOR MSN, RN

Look for RN OR residencies. Most places will not hire you directly into the OR without experience and these residencies can be your ticket to entry. Otherwise look into starting at a surgery center. They normally don't require experience and will tra...

How long is your orientation to the OR for an unexperienced RN? We do not hire RNs directly to the OR. We have a RN residency they can apply to which runs for 6 months. How long is your orientation to the OR for an experienced RN? Dep...

I agree with this. I started second guessing if I wanted to be a nurse my sophomore year of college and wished I would have listened to myself. I found the subjects I studied fascinating but hated actually working on the floor. People kept telling me...

I have never worked in an OR solely for pediatric patients but in general I have worked with really kind surgeons and I've worked with a few unkind surgeons. I wouldn't let your fear of the surgeons stop you from trying out the OR! You'll learn how t...

I've noticed that most people have gotten into management because they were in the right place at the right time or they know the right people. Do you currently work somewhere? If so, I'd start sharing your desire to grow professionally with your cur...

Welcome to the OR!

Trauma experience is great but what is more important is learning the foundation of being an OR nurse. You don't need trauma experience to do that. I know a lot of nurses that were never formally trained to scrub but picked it up after working in the...

Yes, I know plenty of nurses that only know how to circulate. They have never had an issue finding a job. It differs from hospital to hospital on whether they will train you to scrub. My facility is open to teaching nurses to scrub but we have been s...

My recommendation is to use your job to leave a good impression on the nurses/scrub techs and management. Ask questions, be eager to learn, have a good attitude, etc. If they see that you're a good employee the chances of them wanting to hire you lat...

No matter what state you work in knowing how to circulate and scrub makes you more marketable. That being said I know many hospitals are not training nurses in the scrub role.

I agree with all of this! Every surgery is built off the basics. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Remember that a surgery will never go forever even if it feels like it will. You'll get through it!

I believe it. There's enough NCLEX prep books, classes, and/or other resources that you could use to study from. If someone really wanted to put in the time to do this I could see them passing the NCLEX. Also, I have never had a job ask me what...

I agree with the previous comments. Take this as a learning experience, reflect/make changes, and don't give up. I have a co-worker who was let go from her first nursing job, which she thought was her "dream" job. She ended up finding a nursing job t...

Ask your co-workers what others have done when they have lived outside the call time. It's a common issue and they should have a few ideas for you. When I mentioned I lived outside the 30 minute call time a few co-workers offered up their couches wit...

At your hospital are pregnant nurses exempt from taking care of covid patients or patients that do not have a confirmed negative result? I work in a small OR and we have two pregnant nurses that have doctors notes saying they can't take care of patie...

I just become a charge nurse in the OR at my current hospital. It is the first time I have worked in this role. I was wondering if anyone has any tips or advice for me? I know what things I have loved about charge nurses I have worked with and things...

I think it is a really nice offer. I have a longer commute to work and multiple co-workers have told me that I am more than welcome to spend the night when I am on call, the weather is bad, or if I'm just tired.

I'm so glad to hear that I'm not alone with this! I'll have someone bring up something that I know I once knew, but for the life of me cannot remember. It is a shame, because I loved learning about A&P and other related classes.

I definitely see how in some areas this is true. I believe we have a shortage of experienced nurses. Nursing schools seem to be pumping out nurses, but a lot of hospitals don't want to invest in new grads, which is the only way to transform a new gra...

I moved to Portland in October of 2018 from Wisconsin as a new grad. I wasn't set on getting a job right away and only applied for one job when I arrived. I got lucky and was hired! I truly think luck has a lot to do with who gets interviews and who ...