Lammy

My experience has been not an actual nursing shortage, just the place of employment "budgeting" what they think is an adequate nurse:patient ratio. Everyday I see nurses getting floated and flexed if they feel a unit has one patient over the census allowed . For example for a census of 21 you can have 3 nurses and 1 tech. Now they don't say what the acuity is, just the # of patients/ # of bodies working. I know a lot of nurses who want to work, but not risk their license or mental health.

Life is unpredictable. If you are in a position to not worry about repaying $10k then go for it.....however, what if you need to leave your job,what if they change your hours, health problems, family problems? I would rather spend an extra 5 months and be free to do what you want and not have to be obligated. My opinion of course, I've seen life throw many a curve ball.

Get every part of your offer in writing.

although true that most professions are BS or MS degreed, they also offer summers off, school schedules, opportunity for commission, lunch and potty breaks, protection from verbal, physical and sexual abuse, contracts that provide you with salary increases, as well as being able to go to bed by 11. Did I mention that we have the exclusive on all the bodily secretions a PROFESSIONAL RNBSNMSNPHDCYA could ever want? Hurry folks sign up for your $40,000 degree.

Is it usually a requirement to have to orient 5 days a week? I will be interviewing soon, I currently work 4 days a week and want to stay at that. Do I stand a chance?

wow--maybe I won't work in the OR. I don't think I could handle a surgeon throwing things at me, cursing, or any of the abusive behaviors that seem common and routine. I realize they bring in money, but no nurse, no surgery. You have to have a nurse, so the hospitals really need to take a look at this. I believe if someone threw a bloody anything at me I would throw it back and not miss--game on.....

I'm 43 and thinking about switching my career path to OR nursing. I've been a nurse for 20 years and have done geriatrics, dialysis, psychiatry and ALC. I can't continue on the floor I'm on and need to make a change, I'm intimidated however by the fact that I will need to learn a whole new language--I want to take the challenge, but I don't want to fail. Is this an area that I can do for the next 20 years? What is the average age of a nurse in OR?