Specializing in Ortho

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Specializes in MedSurg (Ortho), OR.

Hello all,

Today, I was just told by my educator that the manager of Ortho is impressed with me and she (educator) wanted to know if I would lilke to be in that specialty? I said yes.

Now, after thinking about it, am I ready for it? My background is as follows: 1 year ortho medsurg floor, I just finished my hospital's OR class end of November. So, 4 months total, I have had in the OR. I haven't even been rotated to neuro or vascular. There are 4 of us in the group and the educator didn't tell them anything about specialization.

So, my question is: Did I agree to be in a specialty too early? Should I just go back to them and say that I'd like to see the other specialties before I'd like to commit.

Thoughts/Comments...

Thank you all for taking the time reading this.

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Specializes in Operating Room (and a bit of med/surg).

It's great that they're impressed with your skills. However, I personally would want more experience in a broad range of services before committing to one. I would at very least ask to finish my orientation through the remainder of the services.

I don't know how your on-shift and on-call time works, but if there's any chace you'll be working outside the ortho department it would be good for you to have your basic skills down in all services.

I think it makes you a stronger OR nurse to be able to function in all the services, rather than just being specialized in one.

However, after a year or two I think specializing in an area is a great idea. :)

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

Being able to work in a variety of specialties is always an asset to just being, "the person who scrubs hearts". It sure makes marketing yourself easier.

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Will you be expected to cover other specialties when you are on call? If so, you certainly need at least a brief rotation through those areas.

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I love ortho except for having to wear hot lead gowns and being exposed to so much radiation compared to other specialties.

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Specializes in MedSurg (Ortho), OR.

Yes, I am expected to cover other areas on the OR.

But so far, they have been placing me in big bowel cases and gastric bypasses.

Thanks

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Specializes in MedSurg (Ortho), OR.

Yea, I nearly tipped over with those helmets

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