want to become an NP in the OR, but can't figure out next step after getting RN!

[bubbles42]

I stuck this in 'general nursing' because I wasn't sure if it should go under 'students' or 'student NP' or just 'NP'...

I know I want to be in the OR, and I'll be applying for a new grad residency in the OR to get all the experience I can. I'm also an older student, so I need to get on the ball with the rest of my education, but I cannot figure out which path to take to get my NP.

I want to choose a path that will be relevant to my goal of spending as much time as possible in the OR. I just have no idea what that path is. I've come to the decision that whether it's an MSN or a DNP program is less important than exactly which track I take.

I know there are several certifications that would be fantastic to have, but I don't want to put the cart before the horse. I just want to figure out what kind of NP I should choose. I've already eliminated the FNP because I'd prefer to stick with adults, so I'm thinking adult/gero is probably what I need.

My other issue is that I need a program that would allow me to work while in school, and I would prefer staying with an in-state program, so that severely limits my options. If I must go out of state, I really don't want a program that charges double tuition for the privilege.

I guess my question is what NP specialty is most often found working in the OR?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Is there another type of acute care NP that isn't focused on gerontology?

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

Is there another type of acute care NP that isn't focused on gerontology?

No, that's now the only acute care certification. They rolled the adult and gerontology all into one.

[bubbles42]

This is not true. Here's my 10c as someone who is about to graduate as an AGACNP. You really want to aim for the acute adult gerontology NP program (AGACNP) in order to work in acute care. That's the first hurdle. It's becoming less likely for an FNP to be hired into an acute hospital position, and the consensus is gearing towards hiring only acute NPs in inpatient environments. Yes, I know that there are still many FNPs working in hospitals but that's what's going to happen in the near future. In order to get accepted into a AGACNP program you will likely have to have 1 to 2 years of acute experience as an RN, and frequently ICU experience. In my program OR experience does not count for admission. It's mainly ICU or stepdown that's accepted. If there's a program out there willing to accept someone without acute experience then that's not a program you want to go to. Acute care is much more involved than family. You learn to intubate, put in central lines, arterial lines, chest tubes and manage critically ill patients on pressors, so you want a really good program with an excellent foundation.

Then, once you're an NP you want to get your RFNA. You can get a RNFA while you're a nurse but the program requires you to have 2 years OR experience. If you're an NP they do not require you to have experience. In my opinion getting OR experience as an RN is not necessary at this point because in order to get into a AGACNP program you are much better off getting ICU experience.

There is no specific arena in which you would work solely in the OR as an NP, but there are specialties where it is likely you could spend a lot of time in there. One would be general or GI surgery, another is orthopedics and lastly cardiac surgery where you would be able to assist harvesting veins for CABG. You would have to also do pre-op workups, admissions and post-op rounds as well as assisting in the OR, so don't think that you'll only be in the OR. If you want to do only that you'd be better off working as a surgical tech.

Hope that helps.

Thank you so much! This is excellent info!

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

Thank you so much! This is excellent info!

You're welcome. Anytime :)