Route to the OR

1. Surgical tech training can take a couple years, so you might as well get your RN.

2. RN schools are very competitive now that so many people need jobs and nursing is an oasis in this economy. You need good grades to get in.

3. You are required to have 2 years of O.R. nursing experience before you can go to to an RNFA course, so plan on becoming an RNFA no earlier than year 2014.

4. Associate degree in nursing takes about 3 years because of all the pre-requisites, so you might as well get your bachelor of nursing. It's not required to become an RNFA however.

5. Do you have a college degree already? Some nursing schools have a one-year course in which people who any type of bachelors degree can get a nursing degree in just one year.

6. If you get rejected from nursing school, you might want to become a surgical tech. It's usually a fun job and pays decent, and the job security is excellent. It's one of the best-kept secrets in the career world.

7. If you do graduate nursing school, it can be difficult to get an O.R. position. So, if you get accepted into nursing school, I would get a part time job in the operating room doing anything, so as housekeeper, nursing assistant, secretary, etc. If your boss likes you, you are almost guaranteed an O.R. nursing job when you graduate.

well explained by Ms. Linda2097, all her info are correct & valid. Knowing the options she said, it is up to you to decide the best alternative on a career path. From your background I suggest doing a circulating job in the OR, from your experience in real estate it gives me the impression that you have good social skills, good in organizing & prioritization. Very important in an OR nurse. On the other hand however, if you are good in mechanical stuff, like in real estate you know how to do ~ home improvement & do it yourself projects, you might be a good scrub tech. You have a lot of avenues, it all depends on what you see yourself doing in the future. Whatever you decide, good luck!

I fully agree. We usually only hire with a minium of 1 year OR experience into the OR, but if you have experience as a Scrub Tech you will be considered as well. The same if you have worked in the OR as a Nurse Tech or Secretary or similar and they know you while you are going to RN school. At my hospital we don't differentiate between an Associates and your BSN.