Specialty Crisis for a Student Nurse

[samsundy]

Hi all, need some advice. Right now I am currently employed as a surgical nurse extern with 3 semesters of nursing school to go, which is awesome. I have always been interested in the OR and I am happy I have this experience so I can try it out before graduation. My question is, how many of you got some bedside experience before you went into the OR and how many just went straight for it? I like the OR now, but what if when I am 65 I want to slow down and be a school nurse with summers off? LOL I won't have any bedside experience to speak of. I am wondering if I should focus on getting some bedside experience before settling down in the OR and just want to see what everyone else has done. TIA!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Straight to the OR as a new grad. Have also worked with other nurses who left the OR and succeeded elsewhere- ambulatory physician offices, ICU, med/surg, hospice.