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I am looking to get a job at a hospital which is a level 1 trauma center. What effect would this have on me as a potential OR nurse? Thanks!

I have been working on a Neuro ICU unit at a large teaching hospital for the last two years. Our patients are sick but definitely not the sickest when compared to other intensive care units at the hospital. I feel I am competent on my unit but I don't necessarily enjoy the continuous families, baths, and certain aspects of bedside care. In nursing school I loved my OR rotation, but ended up entering the ICU because I had aspirations to become a CRNA. Since then I have decided not to pursue that career and am now thinking about going back to my original plan of being an OR nurse. So now to the questions: What ICU skills can I expect to be useful to me in the OR? Are there any particular areas of stress which would be increased in the OR as compared to the ICU? Any other l thoughts/opinions on the switch? All replies appreciated! Thanks.

Yup, according to my manager anyway. Just got a 3% raise before even starting, woohoo.

Lush what floor are you on? I still end up there occasionally after some nights partyin.:) It is a really fun area to live in if you're in your 20's.

I would choose OHSU from a pure monetary standpoint. They are both good schools though, so wherever you go just don't stress out and try to enjoy it!

Sorry that I'm a little slow to respond to this post. I have been crazily busy lately. I recently graduated from Linfield and feel it was worth it. However, I am a little biased because my dad is an employee at the McMinnville campus so I essentially got free tuition (ducks and hides). The quality of education was great and you get amazing opportunities at clinicals if you get good reviews from previous sites. We seem to have a pretty good reputation in the industry from what I have heard so far. For me it wasn't an issue, I was simply going to get my bachelors no matter what. Plus I am planning on starting my masters in 1-2 years. Let me know if you have any other questions! And that is funny you mention the older crowd, the age of the students has definitely increased since they went to a transfer only school. However, I would say their is enough variety for both the older and younger students among us.

Our class Prez is working as a student nurse at the VA in its ER, he has a job there when he graduates. Other than that I know one student doing it as their senior practicum. I don't know anyone doing the OR for their senior practicum but you definitely can. You do OR rotations during the acute care clinical, I got to see eight or nine surgeries but it varies by location. I also did an OR rotation for my management class. It was actually really fun as I got to be with the director of peri-operative nursing up at OHSU and got to make use of her assistant (no, not like that dirty people:)). There is no critical care rotation unless you choose it as your practicum which is too bad. Let me know if you have anymore questions!

Screw lazy aids and lazy nurses. We are a team and should all help each other out. Anyone who isn't doing their job should be put in their place.

Your first prof, Diane Welch is really good, the best prof at the school is Dr. Vivian Tong although you won't get her until your acute care rotation. The beginning classes aren't that fun and are a lot of work, just hang in there and plow through em. It starts getting fun around 316, at least for me anyway. There are 7 guys out of 104 students in my class. I love it.:) Nursing girls are really fun to go out with. Well I gotta crash, 12 hour clinical tomorrow and its my last one for my senior practicum! Congrats again.

I've enjoyed linfield, we don't have the 6 month immersion like OHSU does though.

Starting at OHSU this summer I'll be making 28.71/hr with a 6/hr differential for nights. I do make a little more because of my BSN though. A friend of mine at Providence Portland is making the same amount.

It is hard to say due to your location. I got an ICU job at a level one hospital but I think it helped me a lot that I worked there, did clinical there, and made some connections. Good luck!

Didn't feel short changed, however I also didn't like the community health portions of the education. Not interested at all.

Congrats and enjoy, it is a fun school in a fun part of town. Make sure you get friends for happy hour at Lompocs after class! Definitely don't let it stress you out too much. I'm graduating in three weeks and already have a job at OHSU's neuro ICU.

A friend and I both got jobs in the ICU as new grads at a major hospital, however we both were CNAs there prior to being hired. It is possible, may be harder since you are out of state though.

I wouldn't do it, doesn't mean it is impossible though.

Zero years waiting. Glad I went to OSU prior to nursing school though, was able to get most of the partying out of my system.:)

haha, well I had the interview. Thanks for the replies everyone.:) j/k It went well, keeping my fingers crossed for a good call in 2 to 3 weeks!

Hi, I'm a senior nursing student doing my practicum in a med/surg ICU. I have an interview for a neuro ICU position at a major hospital in my area. I have experience as a float pool CNA in the hosptial and have worked on many different units, including neuro regular floors. I have excellent grades, good references, and have performed well at my practicum site. My preceptor actually said she wished they had an opening for me there. This is the same one that on my first day told me most new grads need 6 months to a year med/surg prior to ICU. Needless to say I was flattered. Any recommendations for me before the interview? I would really like to get this position. Is a suit too much to wear?

On the job experience helps the transition but it is also stuff that you will learn quickly even if you don't have experience. I have been CNA while in school and it has helped me a lot with my practicum, just made me more comfortable providing patient care. But it is definitely not a requirement.

No dating, just some random hook-ups. Love the ratio.:) Nursing girls are for the most part, really outgoing and fun to hang out with. I would would definitely marry a nurse if the right one comes along. Working on a pharmacy student right now though.:)

Some places are paying nurses $20 an hour? I make $18 an hour as a CNA, I'm surprised pay varies that much by location. Oh ya, and I'm doing nursing for the money and the fact that I will get fulfillment from what I have to do everyday. Nothing wrong with that.

Nursing school is funny as hell.

Luckily we got to choose between a peds and ob rotation at my school. I really wouldn't have liked ob, good luck to ya!

Thanks for all the support, it really means a lot. Anyway, found out she got into a relationship with a guy who was our mutual friend about a month after we broke up. I completely cut off all communication with her. Its tough, but hopefully getting better. Mostly just wanted to say I appreciate all of your responses, they really did help.