msn2010

My work is hiring 6 OR trainees and start end of Jan or beginning Feb. Last year, we all gave feedback that the COC class was not needed if the trainees are required to take AORN's PeriOP 101 class. However, senior managers are requiring for them to take both AORN and 16wk classroom setting didactic. Last year, COC instructor told us that our class will be last PeriOp course due to budget cuts and things. Yet, my work educator told us that the next group must take classroom setting and they are "talking" to make it happen. So I am not sure where the new trainees will go to take the class. I personally did not like the class at COC since we were required to take the AORN course. I got paid to be there so that was the only positive thing. The weekly assignments were tedious since they were repeats. However, we had other nurses from pre-op, IR and floor taking the course. They appreciated much more than we did. In my personal opinion, taking CST course would not be beneficial unless you want to work as a CST than a RN in the OR. Also, those courses are very expensive. I know several people who were/are CST and became RN or working towards getting their RN degree. In addition, a lot of CST informed me that it was very hard for them to get their first job as well due to lack of experience. Good luck!

FYI... I know a OR nurse who is also NP and RNFA. He has 3 part-time jobs and he is happy. He couldn't find one that was NP/RNFA so he can act as a 'PA'. It is due to billing and pay scale difference and things. although he loves all 3 of his jobs, he thinks it is a joke to keep up with his 3 license/certificate. There are not much of demand for RNFAs in my region. One of my mentor, who is a RNFA, informed me that since RNFAs can't be bill, it goes under MDs service and get paid hourly. Are you already a RN or working as a CST? If you are not a RN, a CST might be one of the option as poet mentioned.

We were told starting next year, 2012 according to NEW and IMPROVED AORN STND, all the staff (including MDs, vendors, anesthesia, x-ray techs) MUST change into hospital provided scrubs, jackets and hats. During one of our in-service with CON and other higher managerst we had great discussion how to place this policy to everyone entering the OR. Yes, it is hard to monitor everyone especially MDs and x-ray techs but it shall be done for patient safety. We were told that we will not be policing them so it will get interesting to find out WHO WILL???

Look into Peri-Op classes from community college. I am in a training program that ends in couple of mo and we had to take the Peri-Op class at College of Canyon (COC) once a week. Also, El Camino, Saddleback (in So OC) offers them as well. I would not rec you to take Surg Tech class. Why go backwards???

I will be done with my one year program in late Jan or early Feb. I love being in the OR. This is where I wanted to be. I am a new grad got into this program. We had both didactic (AORN PreOp 101 and 16 wks of in-class) and hands-on in the OR. It was overwhelming and still is. A lot of what I learned in nursing school are not for the intraop rn. Also, I work in a busy (total of 19 rooms including 5 from ASC) place with many different specialties. Take LOTS of notes. During one of my many interview with them, manager told me that I should not plan to get married or have a child... My old co-workers warned me about OR nurses. I was told that my cohort is lucky since a lot of "mean- old" nurses retired before we came. Good luck!

I wonder if CNOR exam is similar to this. This was not an easy test. It was asking for specific details from the AORN Pre-op 101 course. Good luck.

I usually will open my gloves (outer then indicator) followed by my gown at the corner of the back table. Some likes to open it separate area, however, it is not always available. Use your judgement and knowledge in surgical concious.

In my personal opinion, to become a NP, the individual must have nursing experience. I took the Entry-level MSN way. I do not regret it at all. It was hard and it is still hard to explain to everyone how and why I have MSN w/o any nursing experience. I am thinking about enrolling into one of NP program next year, before you need to get a doctorate degree to be a NP. After exchanging e-mails, the counselor told me that it will half of their program to obtain NP since I have taken their first year worth of courses.

I know!!! why doesn't surgeons/resident do not listen when we say we are counting!?!?! A lot of times when we are missing rayt/lap, I ask MDs (at appropriate time) if they have any before counting from the field. I had number of cases where they were holding it with their hands or tucked away. Also, some of the staff will hide instruments on the may under the towels and will not tell you about it. Couple of months ago, I was told by one of the staff that 4 hospitals that are in same service area as my organization had huge fine due to retaining foreign objects inside the patient. These were what they found: Fred liquid bottle, scratch pads, raytec, q-tip, pathology specimen.

Good luck!!! I had my interview about a year ago and now I beat the odds (6:80 - consider that majority of the applicants were in same union with seniority) and work in the OR. I had hard time answering my questions since they wanted me to give them "if you were a nurse in the operating room" answers. I was a brand-spanking NEW GRAD!!! I had no RN experience to share to begin with!!! I really like jjnRN's advise.

See if you can get a per-diem job at a trauma 1 center. That's what I am planning to do. I work in a large hospital where we have 15 rooms; including peds, neuro, spine, various oncology teams where we have residents and med students. Our organization also has an ASC with 5 rooms where I have rotated through. I missed my main OR so much! However, I wish to work in a Trauma 1 center as a per-diem.

Have you asked your manager if you can be trained as a scrub rn? In my facility, there are number of nurses scrub and they are expect to scrub prn. My manager believe that when a circulating rn can scurb, he/she can be a better OR team member. If not, when you get a chance, just watch them closely. I actually do prefer to scrub than circulating. Or have you thought about becoming a RNFA?

I wanted to be in the OR even before I started my nursing school. It is very hard to get into the OR since OR training program is very expensive. My educator shared with me that it is about $200,000 for each trainee (there are six)!!! My program is one year long (both scrubbing and circulating in various services; including specialized areas such as neuro, spine, ortho, all the oncology team. There are very few of OR trainee program available, usually in teaching hospitals (university) and some require you to sign a contract for two years of your service after the program. Good luck! I do not regret being an OR RN as a new grad but I wish I have floor experience as well. It is VERY different type of nursing, nothing like you learned in nursing school.

The most challenging part of my interview as an OR Trainee was that I did not have a RN experience and they wanted hear just that. I had 5 panel interview with about 30 questions based on "what would you do if...". Since I had many years of hands-on pt care experience and direct customer service, I guess they saw I was very passionate to become an OR RN and picked me. Good luck!

I guess it is depends on where you located. I live in Southern CA and have been working for one of the biggest health organization in the nation and it was IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A JOB AS a Nurse!!! I have MSN, years of hands-on experience and know number of managers and higher ups including MDs (with good relationship). Our organization has very strong union and even managers told me that they can't do much because of the union's policy and agreements for the 'requirements' for their position. Long story short, I landed on an OR Trainee interview and out of 60 applicants (RNs with flr experiences and what not) now I am one of 6 trainee. Here is Southern CA, more than 70% of my classmates did not have their first RN job until 6 mo post-graduation. One of my trainee with ADN told me that out of 29, her and only one other friend has a RN job as of May 2011. Don't give up if it is what you really want. Good luck!!!