MA_RN

I was actually in the same boat as you. Thought the OR was my dream job and realized very quickly into orientation that it was not for me. I felt horrible wanting to leave bc i was in a fantastic hospital and was lucky enough to be one of a very few nurses accepted into the periop program. But you need to follow your heart. I am now working on a floor again. Is it my dream job? No. But I enjoy the work I do. Im still trying to figure out what I love. But at least I'm not doing something that I know is not right for me. As far as finishing your time, they might not have you finish the last few weeks. But i would definitely start applying for other positions asap. You don't want to be without a position for too long. Being in the OR is a totally different skill set, so if you are looking to go back to a floor then you want to jump back in sooner rather than later. You'll be surprised how quickly you remember the floor skills, but I know i felt like a bit of a fish out of water for a few shifts to get back into the mindset and swing of things. Hope everything works out for you!

I am currently in the periop 101 program at my hospital, about 6 weeks in. A LOT OF INFO, feel like my brain is full already. But if you google "OR residency programs" or something along those lines, I'm sure you can find some programs near you. As far as inserting IVs, sadly anesthesia does that, which I am bummed about bc I love doing IVs. Also, anesthesia handles all the medications as well at my hospital. The only medication handling the RN does is when they give meds to the field as the circulator, or they're drawing up and passing the med to the surgeon as the scrub. I know every hospital differs with those tasks though. Definitely keep up with any bedside nursing skills you can. The OR is just a whole different animal. Good luck! You'll get there, don't worry.

Hello everyone! I am currently in the periop 101 program at my job, about 6 weeks in. I have always wanted to work in the OR ever since nursing school. I did a year and a half on a tele floor at a community hospital before moving to a big city hospital where I am in the periop 101 program. Becoming a CRNA has always been in the back of my mind, but seemed somewhat unobtainable. Since I was always interested in the OR, I decided to give the periop position a shot. I'm at a crossroad right now because now that I am in the OR, I find myself gravitating towards the CRNA in the room and just want to be doing/learning that job instead of circulating or scrubbing. I have always had the intention to get my masters degree, but now that I am seeing the CRNA role everyday, I am having serious second thoughts about working in the OR as a scrub/circulator. I am worried that I am wasting my time in the OR in this role, when I could be gaining ICU experience to move towards applying to a CRNA program. I feel guilty leaving this periop 101 program bc I am 1 out of 7 selected for it at a very prestigious hospital. I know they are spending a lot of time and money on training me, but I just don't know if my heart is in it. I don't feel like a "real nurse" in this scrub/circulator position and feel like I am not using my brain power to my full extent. Everyone keeps telling me it can take up to 2 years to feel comfortable in the OR, but I am 26 right now... I don't want to wait until I'm 28 to figure out if I really enjoy this job or not. The CRNA role is so important and such a huge responsibility. I give all of you so much credit and admire your knowledge and expertise. So I guess I am just looking to pick someone's brain about what my next move should be.... do I stay in this position for a year or 2 and suck it up and then try to get into an ICU and move towards CRNA? Or do I throw in the towel and try to get into an ICU now? Thank you in advance for anyone willing to give me advice! -- MA_RN :)