myoho913

Best wishes to you, I hope that all goes well.

I appreciate the encouragement and information... I feel better about making the move. I can't wait to have more time to interact with the patient, I will be starting IVs and giving pre-op drugs so I'll refresh myself on them. Thanks again.

I am a circulator moving to Preop, I will be backing up PACU occasionally on-call. (I missed patient interaction.) I graduated in 2007 and went straight to the OR. Any tips or "lessons learned" for a newbie? Thanks.

Thank you

Hi Have you done much shadowing in the OR? I graduated from nursing school last May and went straight in to the OR. I am soooo happy that I made this decision. I too kept hearing that I should become a med/surg nurse first. Also that my skills will be lost, even OR nurses aren't REALLY doing nursing. This is my second career, I am in my mid forties and don't like med/surg nursing, I don't want to do it period! Just realize that you will lose some of your med./surg pt. care skills, but gain new skills. You still pass meds. to the field, or in irrigation, pt. care, moving, positioning, psychological support etc.. , just in a different set of circumstances and one patient at a time. I feel that this is the one of the most tramatic times in my patient's lives and I can help to care for my patients by forming a fast and close bond. I try to really listen and observe their body language, behaviors, connections to their family, and to react and care for them appropriatly without judgement. They are vulnerable and it is up to us to advocate for them. I know that you are getting advice from all directions, follow your heart. Good luck with this decision..