Which comes first - OR or Med-Surg?

[Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN]

This isn't the usual "to med-surg or not to med-surg" question, but something a little deeper.

I want to work in the OR. It is the one thing I have a passion for. I don't want to work med-surg as a career, but I think I would like to do it for a year or two for the experience. I don't necessarily feel like every nurse should go to med-surg first; I just think I want it for my own development as a nurse.

I thought I'd like to do med-surg for about a year and then switch over to the OR. Then if I truly love the OR as much as I think I do, I'll stay there. If it turns out I don't like it, at least I have med-surg experience to fall back on or as a foundation for moving on to something else.

The problem is this; one of the requirements for every OR internship I've seen is that the candidate "must have no prior nursing experience." I'm afraid that if I don't go right into an OR internship I won't get accepted later on.

So I don't know if it would work the other way around - OR first, then med-surg or go right into the OR? Has anyone else done it this way?

[nursekatie22, RN]

That's weird....I have yet to see a post that required no nursing experience. I might not have started in Med/Surg if I'd found one!

[STEADYJ]

This isn't the usual "to med-surg or not to med-surg" question, but something a little deeper.

I want to work in the OR. It is the one thing I have a passion for. I don't want to work med-surg as a career, but I think I would like to do it for a year or two for the experience. I don't necessarily feel like every nurse should go to med-surg first; I just think I want it for my own development as a nurse.

I thought I'd like to do med-surg for about a year and then switch over to the OR. Then if I truly love the OR as much as I think I do, I'll stay there. If it turns out I don't like it, at least I have med-surg experience to fall back on or as a foundation for moving on to something else.

The problem is this; one of the requirements for every OR internship I've seen is that the candidate "must have no prior nursing experience." I'm afraid that if I don't go right into an OR internship I won't get accepted later on.

So I don't know if it would work the other way around - OR first, then med-surg or go right into the OR? Has anyone else done it this way?

I can see what you are saying but I think that to become well rounded you really need Med-Surg experience. Let's be truthful - the real part of your education comes when you hit the floor. The books and clinicals are practice but you learn when you go to work. Med-Surg is the only place that will give you a well rounded education in the areas you need. If you can learn to be a good and competent Med-Surg nurse you can handle anything! I am a Med-surg nurse that has to chuckle when I hear a L&D or CCU nurse say they hate to float down here because of what is expected from them. I also have ACLS, PALS, NALS so I really choose where I want to work. I would have never had the confidence if it weren't for Med-Surg being my first job. Hooray for Med-Surg!

[nursejcarrie]

I would have to say go for the Med-Surg experience. I did two years of Med Surg before transferring to Pediatrics, which I love. I feel that I am a much better nurse due to my med surg training and wouldn't go back and change anything about it.

Hope this helps!

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

That is weird . . . . I've never heard of asking for no experience. That means they only hire fresh graduates.

You want to work med/surg. It should be your decision.

I have worked for 9 years in a rural setting. If I were you, I would go straight to the OR.

Everyone is different.

steph

[Natkat, BSN, MSN, RN]

Thanks. This has been helpful.

I was trying to find the hospital that had that post, but the web site changed and I can't find the graduate nurse information page anymore. When I have time I'll poke around and see if I can find it. Yeah, I thought it was weird that they would only accept nurses with no experience.

Thanks again everyone.