wondering if OR nursing is right for me

[pisces_girl18]

Hi everyone; I've been browsing these forums for awhile and it's been very helpful. This semester I will graduate with a BSN. I've always known that I didn't want to do med/surg, and I know the area that interests me most is the OR; I've always been fascinated with surgeries. However, I'm not entirely sure whether it would be a good fit for me, since I know you have to be rather assertive and thick-skinned. My instructors have told me I'll have to be more assertive if I want to work in this area, so I've been working on it, but I still feel I've got a ways to go; I'm rather shy and quiet by nature. However, no matter what area of nursing I go into, I'll still have to learn to be more outspoken, so I might as well do what interests me, is how I see it. I also look very young for my age; I'm 23 but I've frequently gotten comments that I look anywhere from 12-18 years old. So I guess I'm afraid that the combination of my looking young and being less assertive will mean I'll get walked all over and/or won't be taken seriously if I decide to work in the OR. Maybe I'm worrying too much, I don't know.

Thoughts, anyone? Thanks for reading this.

[ortess1971]

Speaking as a person who is quiet also, assertiveness can be learned. It's not always a bad thing to be quiet, I find. I have seen co-workers get into trouble because they were too loud and obnoxious. The ones who are too confident and cocky are often the ones who end up hurting someone unintentionally. It can be a challenging area but once you are acclimated, it can be wonderful. You tend to develop a sense of comraderie among each other and usually, if a surgeon knows that you are interested in what they are doing, they love to teach. I say go for it-I had an instructor that HATED the OR once she found out i was planning to go there, she'd make snide little comments about it. I figured, she must have tried it herself back in the day, and couldn't hack it. Your instructors most likely know very little about the OR-don't let anyone discourage you from doing what you like. Good luck! PS- I also look young for my age, but haven't encountered any negative stuff as a result. As a matter of fact, the first OR I worked in, I was the youngest by 10 years. Most of the staff were old enough to be my parents..I got a mean doc one day and he was so rotten to me that everyone immediately came to my defense. I had surgeons walking up to me saying "Ignore him..he's an @#$hole" LOL! He ended up feeling really bad and I think the peer pressure he got made him apologize...

[pisces_girl18]

Thank you Ortess1971! That's very encouraging!

[tessa_RN]

I know how you feel..I am 22 and everyone says that I look 16..I too am shy and not outspoken..I have worked in the OR now for a year and a half (1 year as a student..)The thing is that with time the shyness has started to go away..I am being more assertive..It just takes time..Good luck...ortess1971 had alot of good advice...