Why do nurses cringe when I say I want to be a OR nurse?

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I am a new grad nurse and recently passed the NCLEX exam :). I got a job offer at a hospital clinic that in the mean time will help me pay for my bachelors and my student loans while I practice my skills as a nurse and wait for the opportunity to open up. Every single time I mention the fact the I LOVE THE OR people make a face , and tell me that I won't have any skills as a nurse in there ( WHAT ! ) I have so much respect for OR nurses , pre op , post op , I personally think it is a beautiful career. Any thoughts on this ? I don't think anything will change my mind until I experience it myself . ? but I do feel pooped that others think that way .

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You do you. Everyone else's opinions matters not.

That being said I would talk to some OR nurses regarding that clinic position. It might hamstring you in getting into the OR. Or it might not.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

Many nurses who haven’t worked in the OR don’t know what we do there. Are there skills you use on a med surg floor you won’t use in the OR? Absolutely. Will you learn skills the nurses on a med surg floor don’t know? Absolutely.

Every specialty is going to use skills specific to it and not use others that you may have learned in nursing school. That doesn’t make any specialty greater or less than another.

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Don't worry about what others think. If you want to pursue an OR position, by all means, go for it. Everyone has their niche. That's the good thing about nursing, you always have options and a chance to find yours. If you think OR is it, have at it! You're living your nursing life, not theirs.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

I find this weird, as I have literally never heard anyone look down on OR nurses. They seem to be a tight squad and to have their own clout as a specialty. Either way, what you do for a living impacts you, not them. Do what you want.

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
On 8/3/2020 at 10:33 AM, Nurse SMS said:

I find this weird, as I have literally never heard anyone look down on OR nurses.

You’d be surprised how many non-OR nurses think they’re glorified go-fers who just sit in between running for supplies.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.
21 minutes ago, Rose_Queen said:

You’d be surprised how many non-OR nurses think they’re glorified go-fers who just sit in between running for supplies.

Seriously?! I did a rotation through OR during my internship and yeah....just...no to the gopher statements. I loved it. It felt important and....BUSY. They have my respect for.ev.er. Soooo many details and so many ways things could go wrong.

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On 8/3/2020 at 8:07 AM, mariawong said:

I am a new grad nurse and recently passed the NCLEX exam :). I got a job offer at a hospital clinic that in the mean time will help me pay for my bachelors and my student loans while I practice my skills as a nurse and wait for the opportunity to open up. Every single time I mention the fact the I LOVE THE OR people make a face , and tell me that I won't have any skills as a nurse in there ( WHAT ! ) I have so much respect for OR nurses , pre op , post op , I personally think it is a beautiful career. Any thoughts on this ? I don't think anything will change my mind until I experience it myself . ? but I do feel pooped that others think that way .

Do your own thing, Girl. You won't improve certain skills but you will be learning others and doing something you love.

If I need the OR, I want someone who loves it. Go for it.

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Specializes in Community health.

People love to make faces and be negative. I work in an FQHC and somebody recently told me I was “being wasted here.” As in, I should be working somewhere “better.” She meant it as a compliment and I took it as one!— she thinks I’m awesome! But she also thinks my FQHC isn’t a good enough place for a competent nurse to work. *shrug* I’m working where I love, with the people I want to help. Don’t get hung up on people’s opinions; somebody will always have something to say.

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Specializes in school nurse.

Go for what you want! If I could stay up on my feet that long without my back going on strike, I'd be tempted to try it myself.

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thank you so much I was starting to feel discouraged

2 hours ago, Jedrnurse said:

Go for what you want! If I could stay up on my feet that long without my back going on strike, I'd be tempted to try it myself.

Thank you so much

13 hours ago, Kooky Korky said:

Do your own thing, Girl. You won't improve certain skills but you will be learning others and doing something you love.

If I need the OR, I want someone who loves it. Go for it.

I worked OR for a while as a circulator and I loved it sooooo much , sucks that others can be so discouraging

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On 8/3/2020 at 10:39 AM, Rose_Queen said:

You’d be surprised how many non-OR nurses think they’re glorified go-fers who just sit in between running for supplies.

is not weird at all other nurses have this mentality that OR girls don't do anything and they say that with time they lose their skills as nurses and that the OR is repetitive

On 8/3/2020 at 9:18 AM, NurseBlaq said:

Don't worry about what others think. If you want to pursue an OR position, by all means, go for it. Everyone has their niche. That's the good thing about nursing, you always have options and a chance to find yours. If you think OR is it, have at it! You're living your nursing life, not theirs.

Thank you so much . made me feel better I was thinking I was making the wrong decision and picking the worse specialty

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