RN1.618

I agree with nurseee24. You could absolutely return to the OR. Covid hit our department hard and we have an immense need for nurses. An RN with experience, no matter one would be a hot commodity! I say go for it!

Welcome to the possibility of being an OR nurse! I came to the OR right after I graduated. I did my practicum in the ED and I was a tech there while I was in nursing school. To say the least it was exciting and exhausting at the same time. So , I understand the need for the transition. I love the OR. The schedules are better, there is only one patient at a time and they are sleeping for the majority of it. It is however, extremely different. It is like working in an alien universe. Nothing in nursing school or the other places I have worked could have prepared me for the OR. The experience is helpful sure but, it is so highly specialized here. The fellowship/orientation needs to be long. There is a lot of tech, instruments, equipment ect. My best advice is to make sure you give the OR an adequate amount of time to acclimate to. It takes 1-2 years to truly be comfortable here. I am still learning every day and the hard days are fewer now with the good days being many. I really enjoy working here and the predictability of the schedule too. In the ED as soon as you get rid of one pt your given another. I wish you the best and I hope you join our community!

The OR and ER are soooo different. It would really depend on what you would like to do. Im currently an RN in the OR but I did my nursing school practicum in the ED and I also worked for a few years as a tech there too. The ED is fast paced and always different. If you like frequent change and get bored easily than the ED is for you. If you prefer order and more predictability than the OR would be a better choice. Also, in the ED there is a lot of patient communication. You’ll educate and inform frequently. You’ll put in lots of ivs and do codes and trauma on the regular. In the OR there isn’t much patient communication, no IV’s to do and your patients are sleeping the majority of the time. You also only have one patient at a time (which I personally like) in the ED you will have 5-7 depending on the hospital. My schedule is better in the OR and it’s definitely not as stressful. It still has its challenges though. There is a lot of tech and equipment to learn. An endless amount of supplies that you must become familiar with too. I am glad I chose the OR. It suits my personality better. I didn’t enjoy the frequency of the turnover of the patients in the ED. Just when I thought I was caught up I would get another patient. It was never ending. I have a set schedule in the OR and work closely with the CRNA’s and the docs. My schedule is set each day and the call offers the opportunity to make much more money than in other departments. I hope this info helps. Good luck to you.

Hang in there! I’ve been in the OR for almost 2 years. And I have more comfortable days than uncomfortable ones. There is a lot to learn! It is an alien planet. Once you start to feel comfortable , it’s nice. You only ever have one pt at a time and they sleep for the majority of it. No families to deal with. No call bells. The schedules are better too. Yes we take call but, I only have to take one weekend day every other month, and one holiday call every other year! I’m sure it varies place to place but I think that we have it pretty nice. AORN has tons of resources I recommend staying a member even after periop 101 is complete. The OR is unique and it takes a while to learn it all. Be patient. It’s worth it!

I too suffer through this very crisis at times. I have had previous posts about changing specialties and feeling a sense of inadequacy. But the truth is, most days I’m happy in the OR and I only have these negative thoughts on grumpy days. I like the OR and we get payed the same as the other specialties. Maybe some within are just insecure about themselves and the ones outside the specialty are just bitter from all of the stress they have to deal with. Stress and work load ≠ rewarding job. Happiness = rewarding job. Work smarter not harder. Haters gonna hate. LOL, I could go on and on. But anyway the nurses who look down upon the OR are usually unhappy or overworked. You cannot condemn a position for which you’ve never held. They don’t understand. If your “comfortable” in your position that is a sign you are doing something right not wrong! Keep on keepin’ on and enjoy your career!

I have considered it. My hospital offers a fellowship for critical care nurses. I’d have to start all over again, like a brand new nurse. I went through a fellowship for the OR for 6 mo and I would have to do the same for ICU. I’d be willing to do it if it would make me a more well versed nurse. Very scary though. ICU seems to be a floor that’s very involved. I would love to be able to use critical thinking skills. How would I know if ICU is for me though?

Thank you for the insight. I did have periop 101 but, the section on anesthesia was brief. I would appreciate a more in depth description, especially with the meds. I definitely can look these things up and I will. I truly want to be aware of all that’s going on around me or as much as possible. I appreciate your advice and it will help me through my doubtful days. ?

Hello, Quick summary-I've been a RN for one year in the OR (came directly from school). It has its challenges here but, for the most part I am doing well and learning more each day. There is a cloud that hangs over me though. Some days are good and I feel useful but, most days I feel like I just get supplies and help transfer patients. I really feel dumb some days too. Especially while helping anesthesia. I don't know the equipment to help out there most times. They will mention things to me about meds or physiology and expect me to know and I don't. I feel like being here has really limited my knowledge of some of the basics. I feel like I'm missing out sort of. I've done 8 IV's in my one year as a nurse, 5 of which were successful. I don't always understand what the docs and CRNA's are discussing and I feel like they expect me to know and I want to know! I feel so useless. I should know some of these things! If I was in a different department would that help? I feel like I can do and learn more somewhere else. I feel so inadequate most days and I want to be knowledgeable in my field. I don't have the opportunity to use much critical thinking here and it bothers me. Some days my stupid shows and the docs and others in the room exchange glances and I feel so embarrassed.

I came right to the OR out of nursing school and I love it! Its very different from other specialties. Nursing school did not provide much either in preparation. My typical day consists of: -morning meeting to discuss any issues or concerns for the days cases -I'm usually assigned to a specific room for the day either as a circulator or a scrub. Either way you'll prepare your room and gather supplies for the day. -start our first patient. I'll make sure everything is in order, consents, meds etc. and ill be in communication with the crna and the doc. -During the procedure (if I'm circulating) I basically make sure that everyone has everything that they need. There is a lot of charting and documentation. You'll help to connect instruments and provide the scrub with anything else they may need. -After the procedure you'll accompany the patient along with the crna to PACU and give report. This is just a base of the things that we do here. There is obviously much more. It is a big learning curve for everyone including experienced nurses. I went through the periop 101 program with an experienced nurse and she has the same learning curve that I did. It's very different and highly specialized. I like the environment though, one pt at a time and for the most part predictability of your day. You do have to take call but I see that as an opportunity for $$$$! Also, give yourself time. It is spoken that at least 2 years are required to feel confident here. Hope that helps, Good luck on your journey

I think for me it changes. I’m a little busier while circulating and have to communicate with a lot of people. So days where I feel more upbeat and energetic I love to circulate. Which is the majority of the time. And on the other hand when I want to be on my own and retract a little, LOL. I like to scrub on those days. There’s joys and comforts in both

I do both.

I'm a newer OR nurse (1 year). Take comfort in knowing that the surgeons who do throw tantrums, do it to everyone. It won't just be you. With that being said, if you can deal with mental health patients, you can deal with an angry physician. Give yourself time! It takes a while to get used to the OR. But when you are comfortable, its really nice! I love it here. For every grumpy staff member there are 5 who are super fun to work with. I love what I do, my hours and most of the people I work with.

We have gone from about 30+ procedures a day to less than 10. We are being floated out to other departments to supplement the lack of hours available in the OR. We have sent half of our vents out to our other campuses. Definitely a scary time but I'm sure this experience will make us better nurses and we will learn a great deal from all that we are experiencing.

I graduated last April '19 and went directly into the OR. The hospital I work for requires a 6 month periop 101 program offered through AORN. During this time I had the privilege of working with nurses that had previously worked on the floor. I was eager for their perspective on things I didn't quite understand. But, the truth is that they were in the same position I was and also felt like a fish out of water, suggesting that their previous floor experience offered little to no help in the periop environment. I was honored to experience this program with nurses from all backgrounds but, I do not feel that floor experience is necessary in the OR because it is so highly specialized.

This thread is super helpful. Im starting the program in July and it is great to have insight into what is expected and to have access to the study guides. Thank you