Requirements to become a perioperative nurse?

Editorial Team / Admin · Oct 10, 2009

That would depend on where you live and the hospitals you would be applying to. Not sure how it works in other countries, but in the US there is no formal additional training- that is determined by the hospitals. Each area of perioperative nursing (preop, OR, PACU, postop) requires a different skill set. Check out the OR and PACU forums- lots of educational threads.

As for what hospitals require, that varies. The hospital I work at hires new grads into all specialties. Some hospitals require a minimum of one year of med/surg before you can do anything else. Some PACUs require critical care experience. When applying for jobs, be sure to check what is "required" and what is "preferred."

Inspired By Silence · Oct 10, 2009

You've reached into my specialty knowledge.

An OR RN who wishes to become CNOR certified must enroll in and a complete an AORN accredited residency program, internship, or certificate program, document two years of OR experience, then take the CNOR exam and pass it to become certified.

Best of luck to you. You also may be required to become ACLS and/or PALS certified.

PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2009

Go through an OR training course that a hospital offers. You may have to sign a contract with them as part of training you.

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Oct 11, 2009

You've reached into my specialty knowledge.
An OR RN who wishes to become CNOR certified must enroll in and a complete an AORN accredited residency program, internship, or certificate program, document two years of OR experience, then take the CNOR exam and pass it to become certified.
Best of luck to you. You also may be required to become ACLS and/or PALS certified.

I had 8 months of orientation but did not have a formal residency or internship program. I am still able to take the CNOR exam. Other than that fact, your post was correct.

I'm not sure I'm going to take it though..pricey, and I certainly won't get paid any extra for having it.

SteffersRN87, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2009

My best friend from nursing school got hired at a children's hospital in the OR immediately after graduation. She had no prior health care experience. The only requirement was that she had to take and pass NCLEX before starting the position.

WarmBlanket · Oct 11, 2009

You've reached into my specialty knowledge.
An OR RN who wishes to become CNOR certified must enroll in and a complete an AORN accredited residency program, internship, or certificate program, document two years of OR experience, then take the CNOR exam and pass it to become certified.
Best of luck to you. You also may be required to become ACLS and/or PALS certified.

Without offending anyone who has answered this post , I need to clear up some of the information . First of all HelloM1M1 asked how to become a peri-operative nurse AFTER nursing school. There was some good information passed on about hospital based programs and the need to seek out employers that will train a new graduate .Emergency room nursing is a good stepping stone. You will hear people tell you that Med Surg for 2 years is critical for a new nurse , and I completely disagree . There are so many specialties that need new nurses , if you don't like floor nursing you will end up burnt out and have gained nothing.

Now for some gentle advise to Inspired By Silence : "You've reached into my specialty knowledge" ???? What knowledge ? It can't be knowledge that you gained from experience since you have not even finished nursing school. You throw around alot of info and titles but have no practical experience. Instead of posting about BSN's and MSN's and CNOR's maybe you should work on some care plans or go over your pharmacology math and infusion rates .And your last comment about ACLS was totally wrong : You MUST be BLS and ACLS certified to work as an OR nurse. Some hospitals also require PALS , some don't. I recommend it and think it should be mandatory also.

Operating Room nurses who wish to take the CNOR exam must have a minimum of 2 years or 2400 hours . You do not have to belong to AORN to take the test , it is less expensive if you are a member. In my 17 years as an OR nurse I would say about 10% of my co-workers have become certified. It is not necessary to be certified to get employment. I did it for myself .

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Oct 11, 2009

In my OR, we must be BLS certified, we do not have to have ACLS or PALS..although, I would like to become ACLS certified just to have it.