Travel RN in the Operating Room

NedRN · Feb 24, 2016

I think you should. If you were a manager choosing between two otherwise equally qualified candidates, which one would you pick? Perhaps the one that shows some striving towards professionalism? I only put it on my resume (or list of certifications). I personally don't think it is appropriate on your name badge as some will do (or BSN for that matter). Save extra letters for when you become a manager.

ACLS is useful too and some hospitals are requiring it for all, even OR.

Argo · Feb 24, 2016

I agree with ned, I also do pals. Make sure you have a well rounded background knowing MOST specialty areas of surgery. I don't know how many people are so happy that I know how to do peds or hearts or eyes or trauma or GI without even thinking about it.

Apparently alot of travelers don't get thoroughly trained prior to being a traveler and I have seen contracts cancelled because of ut.

NedRN · Feb 24, 2016

I wouldn't worry about eyes or trauma (other than ortho trauma). In over 20 years of traveling, I've never felt needed in those specialties (although trauma would be fun). I will say that cardiac does land me general assignments so really helps in travel. So does scrub but your screen name suggests you do.

TomWillet · Feb 24, 2016

Recruiter here... in my experience, most hospitals do not require CNOR cert. If you have BLS and ACLS, you would qualify for the majority of jobs available. CNOR cert is worth having, in general, but I wouldn't make it a high priority for the purpose of traveling, unless you are only wanting to work in the top rated hospitals.

NedRN · Feb 24, 2016

Yup, CNOR is never required of a traveler. It is a competitive advantage. If you don't care where you work then no one needs a specialty certification. If you want access to very competitive assignments, you need all the brownie points you can get. Specialty certification is a brownie point.

This traveler is staff and will probably be reimbursed by his hospital. Seems like a no-brainer if so with no downside.

Argo · Feb 25, 2016

I do trauma every weekend at my current assignment and the facility is quite happy that I do. It was not listed as a requirement for the assignment but they require call for most people which means trauma in a trauma hospital. CVOR is also not required for most assignments but it definitely helps make someone more marketable.

Have actually had to do a few retina detachments and vitrectomies in the middle of the night.

NedRN · Feb 25, 2016

I saw a dedicated trauma room at Jackson in Miami with a team twiddling their thumbs waiting for whatever. That situation I've never been in. But call for sure, including rarely an eye, AAA, knife to the heart, and lots of bones and plastic cleanup on large wounds and lots of plumbing issues. But seldom trauma requiring multidisciplinary teams working at the same time. Not really sure what trauma experience might mean, but I've never been asked about it for any assignment.

Argo · Feb 25, 2016

Ours have been usually gunshots, stabbings and auto or cycle accidents needing a general surgery team mixed with a Crani. The ortho can typically wait for the next day so we do very little Ortho. The only peds trauma has been 3 seperate crush injuries from cars requiring general/vascular surgeons.

The point is that if people have been working their first 2 or 3 years in a Level 3 or lower acuity trauma center that just does sports med, basic general surgery and pain management they will be in for a rough time taking assignments at level 1 or even busy level 2 hospitals. If you want to travel and are working at a smaller place I would move to a larger more encompassing facility in your home town, if you can, prior to travel so you can get the experience needed.

scrubulator · Feb 27, 2016

Thanks all!

Quick side question- does the level of trauma your hospital does based off your emergency department trauma level?

I know my hospital isn't trauma 1, but when i google it, it says Emergency Department trauma 2. Is this the same?