Victoria2314

Thank you so much for your detailed response!' It's very helpful and takes away some doubts! I've read a few threads on here about switching to the OR and I've seen the "taking a worst day in OR over a best day on the floor anyway" a few times so it must be a consistent thought!

Hi all, Sorry this is kind of long but more details helps I think and I'd love your thoughts!! I am hoping you could give me some further insight into some pros and cons regarding making a switch from med/surg to OR.. I have only been a nurse a little over two years and have worked at a smaller hospital on a med/surg floor and am also cross-trained to float to our IMCU. I work a 0.9 FTE 12 hour day shifts 0700-1930, every third weekend and every other holiday, but I almost never leave on time and the days turn into 13-14 hour shifts at times because we have poor staffing and poor managerial support systems. I have been considering for some time now to move to another hospital system as well as department because on top of our crappy management, I just don't know that med/surg, constant bedside nursing, is for me. It's fast pace and the long days can go by quickly but I rarely find myself coming home saying I had a "good" day. Some days I feel like I was awful at my job because I did not have nearly enough time to really get to know or understand what is going on with my 6 patients - just being pulled in every direction which makes me feel like things get missed! Upset families, difficult or needy patients...I start to lose my patience. :/. My husband points out to me all the time how I don't seem satisfied and is also encouraging me to pursue new opportunities prior to having kids. In school the OR always interested me and I did a clinical rotation in an OR as well. I recently job shadowed in the OR of another hospital system, a little closer to home, and enjoyed it. Deep down I feel that I could really enjoy the working environment of the OR - including sleeping patients and less patient family interaction! The biggest thing holding me back I feel is the change in hours.. while the 12 hour shifts can get super long and I feel beat (and sometimes not safe!) it is also nice to have more days off throughout the week. The OR position available at this time is 1.0 FTE so 8 hour days M-F with 3 weeknights on call per month and every 8th weekend on call. My husband works a normal M-F 0700-1730 job and thinks I would learn to appreciate the routine of getting up at the same time daily and being done in the afternoons, he might be right, but I am hoping some of you can tell me first hand how it is working OR hours and in the OR environment and if making such a switch is worth it?!? ANY thoughts and advice is appreciated!! Thanks!