Happy Perioperative Nurses Week! This is our time to celebrate being proud and passionate operating room (OR) nurses. One of the most fascinating things about OR nurses is hearing the stories of how each nurse found their way into our specialty. Some of us transitioned straight from nursing school, while others discovered the OR after working in other departments. Regardless of the path, something sparked our curiosity and drew us in. During Perioperative Nurses Week, we hear so many incredible stories about how our colleagues found their way to the OR, and I wanted to share my story with you as well. So come along with me and let me tell you how I found the operating room...
Spring 2007: A First Glimpse
In my second semester of nursing school, I was thrilled about my Med-Surg rotation — not because of Med-Surg itself but because it meant I’d get to explore other areas of the hospital, like ICU, ER, IV therapy, and the OR. At the time, I was working weekends in the ICU at a Level 1 trauma center, so I was convinced that the ICU was my ultimate destination. The OR was just a “bonus” day to me, a chance to step away from the usual routine.
On my day to observe in the OR, I watched two laparoscopic cholecystectomies and a total knee replacement. The OR nurses impressed me with their focus, expertise, and teamwork, and I gained a new perspective for the specialty. Later in the semester, my instructor asked if any of us would like a second day in the OR. I was SHOCKED to look around and see that I was the only one to raise my hand! But, because of that second day, I was given the opportunity to observe open heart surgery. That day, standing in awe during surgery, the OR left a lasting impression on me.
Still, I told myself, I’m destined for the ICU.
Fall 2007: Unexpected Inspiration
In my third semester of nursing school, I was elected president of our nursing organization, which earned me a spot at a statewide nursing conference at the Lake of the Ozarks. As part of the conference, I was paired with a mentor, Janice, a PACU nurse. Though I was set on the ICU, I saw this as an opportunity to broaden my horizons.
Janice had been an ICU nurse before transitioning to PACU, and our conversations opened my eyes to the possibility of moving between specialties. It was something I hadn’t seriously considered before. Her insights stayed with me as I continued my studies.
Spring 2008: A Pivotal Decision
By spring, panic set in. Many of my classmates had already secured new grad positions, and while I was an employee at my hospital, I still had to apply and interview like everyone else. My plan was straightforward: apply to the ICU fellowship and nowhere else. But after discussions with Janice, my parents, and even ICU nurses, I decided to apply for the OR fellowship as well.
In March, the top five students in our class were given the opportunity to choose their preceptorships. My classmates gravitated toward specialties like L&D, NICU, and pediatrics. None of those interested me, and I didn’t want to precept in the ICU since I planned to start there after graduation. I hesitated, then suggested PACU. To my surprise, the coordinator wasn’t sure if they could accommodate that request. A week later, she offered me the OR instead, and I accepted.
Those six weeks in the OR were transformative. I was paired with Elizabeth, a nurse who primarily worked in the pediatric OR. And while working on the pediatric unit wasn't appealing to me, I found OR pediatrics captivating. The team’s warmth and camaraderie made the experience unforgettable. Each day, I went home excited to tell my parents about everything I’d learned. Yet, the ICU fellowship still loomed in my mind, and I hadn’t heard back about the position. Anxiety crept in as classmates received job offers while I waited.
On my final day in the OR, Elizabeth told me someone wanted to speak with me. It turned out to be the OR educator and a charge nurse. To my surprise, they were interviewing me for the OR fellowship right then and there. They’d noticed my enthusiasm and believed I could thrive in the OR without prior nursing experience. I left the meeting hopeful but conflicted about my ICU dreams.
April 2008: A New Path
At the end of April, I attended the final nursing conference with Janice and presented my project. After returning home, I found a voicemail from Elizabeth urging me to check my email. I rushed to my computer and saw an offer letter for the OR fellowship! By that time, I'd also learned that I hadn't been accepted into the ICU fellowship. Without hesitation, I replied to the email, accepting the offer.
16 Years Later
Looking back, I never imagined OR nursing would become my career. It wasn’t an easy journey to get into the OR, and it hasn't all been easy since, but it’s a journey I am truly grateful for and looking back, I'm so glad I didn't get that ICU fellowship ;)
What about you?
What’s your story? Did you take the traditional floor-to-OR route, or did you jump straight into the OR like I did? Were you told, as I was, that you’d be “wasting your skills” in the OR? Thankfully, more ORs are welcoming new grads which is a trend I’m excited to see continue. If you’re a nursing student considering the OR, I encourage you to give it a chance!
Cheers to Perioperative Nurses Week!
I’m so grateful for every OR nurse who listens to our podcast, reads the blog, and engages with the content on First Case, whether here on the blog or on our social media platforms. Because of First Case and your engagement, my OR network has expanded beyond my workplace to become an international network, packed with nurses, surgical techs, and other healthcare providers from all around the world. And to each and every one of you I say, Happy Perioperative Nurses Week!
Here’s to us — this week and every week,
Lindsey
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