Realistic to work OR PRN?

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Hi everyone...

As some of you may already know, I am trying to return to nursing after being out for 4 years, and for now, I will only be able to work PRN. I have wanted to work in the OR ever since my OR rotation in nursing school and it just so happened that our local hospital put up a new posting for a PRN OR position that didn't require previous OR experience. I was like WHOA :eek:... it seemed a little too good to be true, but I applied anyway!

After the fact, I started reading some of the threads on here by OR nurses, and I am beginning to think it IS too good to be true after all... so I thought I'd ask you guys what you think.

Can I realistically work PRN in the OR - learning everything I need to know, gaining enough experience to be competent, so on and so forth?

I appreciate any responses! I know I am jumping the gun a little, seeing as I just applied, but I was soooo excited about the prospect of actually getting the job I always wanted, but now I'm a little discouraged and want to see if I am worrying unneccessarily or if my worries are precedented.

Thank you all for your time!

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They will probably make you work full-time until you are fully trained. Ask them.

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Specializes in OR, ER, Med-Surg, ICU, CCU, Home Health.

I agree with Linda. They may also want you to take a refresher course since you've been out of nursing for a while.

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Hi everyone...

As some of you may already know, I am trying to return to nursing after being out for 4 years, and for now, I will only be able to work PRN. I have wanted to work in the OR ever since my OR rotation in nursing school and it just so happened that our local hospital put up a new posting for a PRN OR position that didn't require previous OR experience. I was like WHOA :eek:... it seemed a little too good to be true, but I applied anyway!

After the fact, I started reading some of the threads on here by OR nurses, and I am beginning to think it IS too good to be true after all... so I thought I'd ask you guys what you think.

Can I realistically work PRN in the OR - learning everything I need to know, gaining enough experience to be competent, so on and so forth?

I appreciate any responses! I know I am jumping the gun a little, seeing as I just applied, but I was soooo excited about the prospect of actually getting the job I always wanted, but now I'm a little discouraged and want to see if I am worrying unneccessarily or if my worries are precedented.

Thank you all for your time!

A refresher course would be useless in OR. I do think they would require a full time orientation for sure.

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Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, TELE, CATH LAB, OPEN HEART.

My last OR job I was PT 24 hours/week, I oriented 40 hours a week (had 28 years experience when I took that job).

I just accepted a Float postion 24 hours/week, NOT in OR and will be orienting 36 hours/week.

MOST PRN and PT positions you are expected to orient FT because it would take forever, especially in OR without experience. It IS DOABLE though.

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Thank you for all the replies :)

I was wondering how they could effectively do the orientation for PRN (in any unit), so that makes a lot of sense. As for the refresher course, I contacted the BON and they said it is not required, but I may have to do the new-grad type orientation if the facility preferred...

Thanks again everyone!

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I recieved an email from HR today, saying that they hired a new OR director who starts next week, and that they would be interviewing after that... so looks like I might still have a shot! :D

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Well, looks like this position has been filled (according to the hospital website). Just wanted to update the post! Still have applications in for a few other positions, so keeping my fingers crossed that one of them will come through!

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