Summers97

I went straight into the OR from school as well. I managed to secure a NA position in the OR while I was in school. This gave me a great opportunity to learn the routines and people in the OR and made it easier to get a RN position. Prior to this I was a PCT on a Med / Surg floor and knew then I did not want to be a floor nurse. There is enough to learn in the OR to keep you busy for a long time. OR nursing is a night and day difference compared to floor nursing, and never the twain shall meet. I sometimes go to the GI lab to start IVs or to interview patient for procedures when they need help and the OR os slow but that is rare. Plenty of call shifts to pick up from your co-workers.

The OR demands a strong personality and a confidence in your own worth. As with all nursing we tend to eat our young. I agree with the other posters that 12 weeks is unreasonable to learn all that is needed to run a room alone. There will always be the back biting and gossiping but as I tell people all the time " Good thing my self-esteem does not depend on your opinion". Keep working hard and absorb all you can. Good Luck