1st nursing job - OR or NICU?

Specialties Operating Room

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Specializes in Maternal / Infant Nursing.

I posted the same thread on the NICU specialty page.

I have been reading many of these threads over the last 2 years of my nursing school education. They have been enormously helpful. I rarely post anything because I can usually find the answer to my questions in another thread somewhere.

I am about to graduate from my ADN program at the top of my class. I am very concerned with picking the best 1st nursing job. I have been to several interviews and I am now trying to choose between a NICU position at a great level III facility and a position as a circulating nurse in the OR at the same hospital.

I want to make the best chose for my personality and my future, and the place where I can do the most good. I have made a pro/con list for each and they are about the same length. Both jobs offer an hour commute - but there is an option to move. The NICU position is 3-4 nights a week 7p-7a and the OR position is M-F 6:45-3:15, but of course that is not the deciding factor.

I love people, learning, teaching, helping. I see so many beautiful things about working in the NICU and so many interesting things about working in the OR. I know that the OR doesn't offer alot of opportunities for therapeutic communication and teaching which I know I am good at, but it does offer a lot of learning interesting new things.

I scored better than 99.02 % of the 9779 students in the last year that too the HESI Peds Final Exam. I can do the book work - but I am becoming a nurse to help people.

Any advice?

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Well for one thing, NICU involves no heavy lifting, so you would spare your back. Both O.R. and NICU would be stressful to learn, but I think NICU would be easier once you are good at it because it would be more routine than the O.R. Also, much less running around than the O.R.

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Specializes in Maternal / Infant Nursing.
Well for one thing, NICU involves no heavy lifting, so you would spare your back. Both O.R. and NICU would be stressful to learn, but I think NICU would be easier once you are good at it because it would be more routine than the O.R. Also, much less running around than the O.R.

Thanks Linda! The lifting and back thing are definitely on my pro/con list. Thanks for your help.

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I made the change from NICU to OR; best of both worlds! Go for it!

Staying within the same hospital allowed me to keep PTO and benefits unchanged. Like a new job without being a new job!

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Specializes in OR, community nursing.

"I know that the OR doesn't offer alot of opportunities for therapeutic communication and teaching which I know I am good at, but it does offer a lot of learning interesting new things. "

Your quote here caught my attention. In the OR, many patients are nervous about surgery and need therapeutic communication. Unfortunately, very little time to do what you want to do. You will find your skills in this area more useful in the NICU especially with the parents.

In the OR , you need to have a balance of atheletic skills and critical thinking skills. If I was a hiring manager, I would not be interested in someone's HESI score. Instead, I would ask about teamwork and sports that they play. If you know what your team is doing, you can anticipate every move. I find the best OR nurses are those who are teamplayers.

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Specializes in Maternal / Infant Nursing.

Thanks for your advice. You made a really great point with the team reference. A great team is very important to me.

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I want to point out that NICU RNs are in a wondeful position to advance breastfeeding. I have worked in 3 NICUs, and if I were "empress of the world," I would restrict NICU RNs to those who have the patience and caring to help mothers and babies with this very important health decision. Most of NICU care is not rushing to L & D to resuscitate a 23 week premie.

I have been a perinatal nurse for 12 years. It never ceases to amaze me how many perinatal RNs don't care about breastfeeding, or say that they lack the patience for it. IMHO, that is the same as an OR nurse who doesn't care about sterile technique.

Since you are an excellent student, I hope you will dedicate your nursing career to advancing evidence based care. You may find, sadly, that many nurses are still wedded to "we have always done it this way." We need bright, energetic, educated, caring people to move the profession to evidence based.

Good luck with your job decision!

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Specializes in Maternal / Infant Nursing.

Thanks Allison. I haven't certainly thought about the potential to educate about the advantages of breastfeeding. Thanks for you thoughts! I think I am going to take the NICU position.

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interesting opinions you guys have. which of the 2 do you think is more difficult to grasp?

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I Have Been An Or Nurse For The Past 23 Years. Not A Day Goes By That I Don't Learn Something Or Teach Some One Some Thing.

I Have Made It Part Of My Daily Work To Get To Speak To Each Of My Patients Before They Go Into The Or And Always Hold The Hand Of My Female Patients While They Are Being Anaesthetized.

Basically It All Comes Down To Your Personal Attitude To Your Work.

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That is a beautiful description. All of us nurses have so much potential to give, and to receive, from our patients and our coworkers.

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I have made a pro/con list for each and they are about the same length

I'm curious about that list. Please share.

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