Job Description of a Surgical R.N.
Surgical registered nurses are health care professionals who help surgeons in the operating room, according to Education-Portal.com. These individuals--also called perioperative or operating room nurses--also care for patients before, during and after surgery and can work in ambulatory care facilities or hospital surgery departments. These individuals typically must complete two to four years of training.
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Duties
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Surgical RNs can conduct blood tests, administer medications and prepare patients for surgery in addition to setting up equipment and instruments prior to surgery, according to DegreeDirectory.org. Following a surgery, they clean wounds, manage pain, monitor patients who are coming out of anesthesia and provide post-operative instructions to patients' family members. If they serve as scrub nurses, they are responsible for preparing and transferring instruments to surgeons during operations. When working in this capacity, surgical registered nurses must don sterile surgical scrubs and cleanse their arms and hands with special disinfectants.
Other Roles
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Surgical RNs also can serve as registered nurse first assistants or circulator nurses. Registered nurse first assistants are highly trained nurses who use medical instruments on patients, cut and handle human tissue, control bleeding and suture wounds. Meanwhile, circulator nurses bring patients back to the operating area and make them feel comfortable and relaxed. They monitor the patients' vital signs and well-being during operations to ensure the procedures are as effective as possible.
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Skills
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Surgical registered nurses must have strong oral and interpersonal communication skills for working with other nurses, surgeons and patients. They must know how to read electrocardiograms--tests that measure the electrical activity of the heart--as well as understand drug interactions. In addition, surgical RNs must be quick and accurate in reacting to emergency situations. They also must be able to multitask, as they might have to monitor up to seven critical care unit patients at one time. Surgical registered nurses additionally must be sympathetic when working with patients who face serious health conditions.
Education
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Aspiring surgical registered nurses can choose to complete hospital-administered diploma programs, which typically last two to three years. They also can complete two-year associate degree programs in nursing that feature specialties in surgical nursing. Aspiring RNs additionally can complete four-year bachelor's degree programs in nursing that involve two years of supervised clinical experiences. Graduates of a registered nursing program must pass the National Council Licensure Examination-RN to obtain a nursing license in their state. They usually then begin working as general practice nurses in critical care or emergency room environments before developing specialized surgical nursing skills. After gaining experience in an operating room, surgical registered nurses can take an exam to become Certified Nurses for the Operating Room, which increases their employment opportunities.
Outlook
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Employment of registered nurses, which include surgical registered nurses, is projected to climb 22 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of surgical procedures is projected to climb as the population grows and ages. Median annual wages of registered nurses in May 2008 were $62,450, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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References
- Photo Credit surgical team during operation: working on open wo image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
