Question about marketability and growth as a new grad in OR

Specialties Operating Room

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I was hired as a new grad to the OR in CA and I was curious how marketable I would be in the future if I was only trained on how to circulate as opposed to both circulate and scrub experience? I am being trained right now in their Periop 101 program if that makes a difference.

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Specializes in Operating Room Charge Nurse.

No matter what state you work in knowing how to circulate and scrub makes you more marketable. That being said I know many hospitals are not training nurses in the scrub role. 

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Thanks for your response. Will I be hirable as a circulator only? Also, are hospitals likely to train a circulator coming in as a new employee to scrub?

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Specializes in Operating Room Charge Nurse.
4 minutes ago, LUCKYTOBEMEBSN said:

Thanks for your response. Will I be hirable as a circulator only? Also, are hospitals likely to train a circulator coming in as a new employee to scrub?

Yes, I know plenty of nurses that only know how to circulate. They have never had an issue finding a job. It differs from hospital to hospital on whether they will train you to scrub. My facility is open to teaching nurses to scrub but we have been short staffed lately so we have had to put that on the back burner. 

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I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions! I have one more - the hospital that offered me a position is not a trauma center but offers more variety of surgical services than a small community hospital. Am I making a mistake accepting this position - especially since they do not train to scrub?

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Specializes in Operating Room Charge Nurse.
Just now, LUCKYTOBEMEBSN said:

I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions! I have one more - the hospital that offered me a position is not a trauma center but offers more variety of surgical services than a small community hospital. Am I making a mistake accepting this position - especially since they do not train to scrub?

Trauma experience is great but what is more important is learning the foundation of being an OR nurse. You don't need trauma experience to do that. I know a lot of nurses that were never formally trained to scrub but picked it up after working in the OR for a few years. Taking this job does not mean you'll never learn to scrub or won't be hireable at a hospital that does trauma later down the road. I know so many new grads desperate to get into the OR. It tends to be a tough specialty to get into. I'd take the job if it is being offered and the OR is where you want to be. 

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This really helps. I want to make sure I am making the right decision for my career. It's overwhelming as a new grad but this feedback really does help. I was offered the job and I accepted. I no longer have concerns about it. Thank you, again, for taking the time!

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Specializes in Operating Room Charge Nurse.
On 5/28/2021 at 8:20 AM, LUCKYTOBEMEBSN said:

This really helps. I want to make sure I am making the right decision for my career. It's overwhelming as a new grad but this feedback really does help. I was offered the job and I accepted. I no longer have concerns about it. Thank you, again, for taking the time!

Welcome to the OR!

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Specializes in ICU, Trauma, CCT,Emergency, Flight, OR Nursing.

Great decision and best of luck. Definitely learn tp scrub as it will make you an even more versatile OR RN and a better circulator as well. Where I work we get to do both and decide how many days we want to scrub and how many days we want to circulate. Definitely keeps work invigorating and interesting. 

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