Surgical Nursing Jobs

[jgrizzle13]

I've worked in med-surg this past year (my first year as a nurse) and I'm very interested in switching to surgical/ OR nursing. It's been an extremely challenging year. Though I feel very supported in my environment, I have had some frustration and struggles with MDs getting upset over petty issues, being overwhelmed with taking care of 6 patients (some that are very critical), and just the struggles that come with patients who can be demanding, combative, confused, 1013, etc.

Surgical nurses- how would you say your overall satisfaction with your job is compared to areas of high turnover (i.e. med surg)? Do you enjoy what you do? What's the most challenging? Are there any "power struggles" between doctors and nurses or are the relationships overall better than on the floor? Any insight into surgical nursing would be greatly appreciated!

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Come on over and check out the OR nursing forum- you'll find a wealth of posts that provide the insight you're looking for.

[beachgirl17]

Hi there! I started out on a med-surg unit with emphasis on orthopedics. It was HARD work! I was there two years and I could not wait to get out of there. I did not know which direction to go from there, but starting thinking about the OR. I was in a large facility at the time. I got in contact with the OR educator and asked to come for a few days to observe in the OR. I did that on my days off and it helped me to make up my mind. Plus, it helped in the interview process that they knew my face and that I was seriously interested.

It has been 5 years since I've been in the OR and I have never looked back. I will never work anywhere else. Many people say you either love it or hate it. Luckily, I have found my niche.

It is critical that one has an appropriate orientation. Your previous experience will help with critical thinking and time management, but it does not really translate otherwise to the OR. Six months, at least, is the time frame for OR orientation. I guess it depends on the facility and the complexity of the procedures though.

Yes, there is still stress. It is just different stress. Some surgeons are great, some are not so nice. I feel like it is a much more team atmosphere than the floor.

It is pressured to be fast paced for quick turnovers. We are the money makers of the hospital, so we need to do more cases.

Some times you feel like you have no idea what you are doing. I've been doing it five years and I still feel that way. That can be a plus though, you won't get bored, if you continue to learn.

Being on call can be a big hassle that disrupts your personal life. Make sure you check into how they do on call schedules - this can be a big source of low morale and may be a reason for staff turnover.

I have been in large teaching hospitals and the staff turnover can be fairly high. It really depends on the personality of each person whether they enjoy it or not.

On my days that I am not loving it, I remind myself what the floor is like. Positives that I see in working in the OR include: one patient at a time, multiple team members are in the room if an emergency arises, limited time with family members, no call bells, usually get uninterrupted lunch breaks, and often times get to listen to music during the procedures.

If you have any more questions, I'd be happy to answer and I agree with previous poster - check out the OR forum under the specialties tab.

Hope this helps!