Hi, I've been a nurse nearly 4 years now and I want to change up units. I'd love to work in the OR but nobody will seem to hire me without experience. How do I get a nursing residency (not as anew nurse) in the OR or get cross training?

Look for a company that will train new to specialty! I have noticed that OR new to specialties can be more difficult to find, but definitely not impossible! I don’t know where you live or if you have the option of moving but typically larger metro hospitals will have some kind of training. Also, write an appealing cover letter how interested you are training in to the new specialty. Another food for thought, you could try working per diem at an outpatient surgery center and asking them to cross train you in to all specialties (pre-op, OR, and PACU). Then you’ll still have some OR experience when applying to OR positions.

Keep asking. Look for managers who are willing to train you. Look for hospitals that offer a periop 101 course. Get two books: AST GUIDE and Alexander’s guide to the patient in surgery. Learn from these books while you wait. Be prepared to move to the opportunity.