Many people have posted threads asking about the pros and cons of working as an OR nurse. How about we start one thread with all of your pros and cons?
Here's mine:
Pros:
-1 patient at a time, and they're asleep without visitors for the vast majority of it
-teamwork (when it's good)
-call (extra $$!)
-great opportunity to learn anatomy
-variety: can spend 1 day a week in neuro, another in ortho, etc.
Cons:
-There's a lot to learn
-surgeons (some aren't exactly the nicest- they all have bad moments, like when that innocent bystander who took a bullet to the chest is tanking, and the surgeon just lets out a couple f-bombs at the situation, but some are just generally asses)
-call (amount varies from place to place and specialty to specialty- currently, I am tied to my pager and staying within 20 minutes of the hospital about 32-80 hours per week, depending on if it's my weekend- makes simple things like grocery shopping something that just can't be done on a whim- standing in line to check out with a bunch of cold/frozen stuff and hearing the pager go off, knowing there's no way to get the stuff home and still make it to the hospital on time is a bad idea)
I would love for more input on What are some of the things you really like about the position- what are some thing you really dislike about the position?
Advantages as an RN vs. disadvantages professionally,
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Advantages as an RN vs. disadvantages professionally,
I've found a couple of disadvantages: it's difficult to find a long-term part time teaching gig with only OR experience. Schools want those who work in the areas in which students do clinicals, and as the OR isn't one of them, I haven't been offered more than one temporary part time job (which has since ended).
It does feel like I've lost some of the assessment skills. I haven't used a stethoscope on the job- at all. It's usually anesthesia listening to the lungs, PACU assessing lungs and bowel sounds for abdominal surgeries, and then most other in-depth assessments happen on the floor.
But, I've also learned a lot about anatomy, collaborating with various professions (anesthesia, surgery, surg techs, etc) as well as with other units (ICU- convincing them to take a patient direct, working with inpatient units to get patients into the OR on time if they can't go to preop).
What do I really dislike about the position? The fact that I can (and have) work more than 24 hours straight. Hazard of working on a specialty team that covers all of its own call. I worked my shift, stayed late to finish the schedule, and was in the locker room when they called us for an emergency that ran well into the next day. But, my boss is great about getting us out for the day if we've been in late and haven't slept.
Advantages: Job satisfaction. Most days, I love my job (not enough to do it for free since I have to pay for food, clothes, shelter, and other things) even though it has its bad days. I have a great team who are supportive and have been references for me in applying to grad school and teaching positions.
Thank you Rose_Queen- I REALLY appreciate that. I want to go back to school to get my RN to MSN Edu degree and may be going toward this specialty soon as well. I really appreciate your knowledge and response.
There is so much to add , even in addition to the vast info allready given , but I'd add you must like the technical aspect of nursing. We use TONS of equipment, and they malfunction/ need different settings FREQUENTLY, and it's the RNs responsibility to fix it, fast... so yeah, there is a heavy tech component you must consider
but all in all, it's awesome, I won't work anywhere else!!
kantuta
39 Posts
Awesome!!!!! thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!