Working in the OR--Transfer Question.

[ACaring&Sweet,Rn]

Hi, I have been working Ltc for about a year. Now I am working in a big hospital system on a Med/Surg floor for 5 months now. I have always wanted to work in the OR. I found out at this hospital system that you have to be there for at least 6 months before eligible for transfer. Now that I am in Med/Surg, how hard would it be to transfer to the OR when I reach my 6 months? Is it too early (at 6 months) to try to transfer, or should I wait until i have been in Med/Surg longer. Or is this hopeless because I do not have enough experience? I know that when i put in a request it does not mean I will get it. I just need somebody else perspective on this. Has anybody on these boards transferred to the OR from other departments and what their process/experience was? I have always wanted to work in the Operating Room. I even had several interviews at other hospitals (for the OR) to no avail. I have been trying to make connections by talking with some of the OR nurses there :).

[ruralgirl08]

I would suggest applying to postings, as soon as you are eligible to transfer. I don't know what the process is at your facility, but a lot of times seniority or expereince are a factor in deciding who gets in, when there are multiple applicants. Maybe you should see if you could talk to the OR educator and find out if they are running a peri-op training program in the future, and what would make you a more desirable candidate.

[ACaring&Sweet,Rn]

I plan to apply at 6 months regardless of getting it or not. This hospital doesn't offer a peri-op program, but I will check on it for the future. There is another hospital system here that offers the peri-op program, and I thought about doing that. I wanted to do it, but that would require me to leave my current job (which I cannot do). The program is five days a week x 6 months, and I work full-time on the Med-Surg unit. I am trying to think of someway to attend if I don't get this transfer. Thanks for your information.