Student with OR questions

[RNstudentKC]

Considering that I pass out anytime I have cut myself and bleed I was NOT expecting to do well on my observation day in the OR. On the contrary, I absolutely loved it! I was able to see an open heart surgery, knee replacement, hysterectomy, etc etc without even a flinch! I was shocked. I clicked really well with the staff and they told me to come back and apply after I graduate. I really loved the camaraderie the OR nurses had and want to be apart of that.

I'm very conflicted now on what I would like to do when I graduate. My plan was to go into some type of critical care field that would help prepare me to be an NP. But now I just don't know. I wouldn't think it would be logical to be an OR nurse if I eventually want to be an NP.

I have to be honest and admit I have not enjoyed any of my clinicals except the few days I spent in the OR. The only thing I really like doing is procedures. All of my clinical instructors say that is what I do best and it seems I'm always picked as the "procedures nurse" during simulation labs. I also have to say that I get bored extremely easily and really need to pick a field where I am challenged and move around. I definitely couldn't be the OR nurse that gets stuck charting through every procedure. It would drive me insane! I was thinking a First Assist would be an incredible position but I have no idea what I would need to do to attain it.

Any advice is much appreciated. I'm extremely conflicted and I hate not having a plan. I'm tend to be a very detailed person and it drives me crazy sometimes!

Thanks!

[SandraCVRN]

I have actually worked with a nurse fron the OR that has gone on to get her NP and now works in a health clinic.

She started out like the rest of us, mostly circulating (that person that charts & a whole lot more) then scrubbed, then got on the heart team, eventually becoming service leader for CV. Continued her education along the way. Went to work for our CV surgeons in thier office and assisted during open heart procedures among others.

My hospital doesn't pay extra to "first assistants" that work for us, but we have 3 that work for the general surgery group and bill for their own fees.

Good luck......

[Mr. & Mrs. RN]

There are a lot of NPs that work with a physician or physician group scrubbing in with them as first assist, and working in their clinic as well. Not a bad choice in my mind, if you want to eventually work with a surgeon as an NP.

[RNstudentKC]

Is it difficult to get a job working with a surgeon as an NP? Thanks!

[micklin]

Have you considered a CRNA? Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist? I've been in the OR 10+yrs at 3 separate institutions and have never met a NP. RNFA's yes but never a NP. Many institutes hire RNFA's to assist surgeons especially when it is not a teaching facility with residents. Other RNFA's are "free lance" and get paid by insurance companies. I think it's a better choice to work for the hospital and not have to worry too much about malpractice insurance, billing, etc. What ever you decide, the OR is a great choice.

[RNstudentKC]

Thank you so much for the info! I looked into the CRNA school that's in our area but it just wouldn't be conducive for family life. I have two small children and in their program there's a possibility you would have to go to clinicals in another state. I've been checking job boards at the children's hospital and saw that they had NP position in PACU and some other fields related to surgery. My son had surgery there and his ENT had an NP that worked for her and she did an assessment on him. I would really really really like to be a first assist. I just don't know how hard it is to break into that field though.