Perioperative Nursing Certification
Perioperative nurses generally work in the operating room, assisting surgeons with surgical procedures. They may handle surgical equipment, as well as assist in the suturing of incisions, according to the Bureau of labor Statistics (BLS). The Certified Nurse-Operating Room (CNOR) credential is designed for nurses wishing to specialize in perioperative nursing. This credential is achieved from and operated through the Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI).
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Registered Nursing
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Before specializing as a perioperative nurse, a candidate needs to complete a nursing educational program, according to the BLS. Nursing educational programs offer either an associate (two-year) degree or a bachelor’s (four-year) degree in nursing. Some hospitals also offer three-year nursing diploma programs that qualify. After completing the chosen program, he must pass the national licensing examination for nurses, which is known as National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN).
Eligibility
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To be eligible for the CNOR credential, there are a few requirements that a candidate must meet, according to the CCI. First and foremost she must have a registered nurse license, which legally allows her to practice in the United States. She also must have at least two years' experience as a registered nurse with at least 2,400 hours as an operating room nurse, as of July 2010. Lastly, when applying for the CNOR credential, she must be currently working in surgical nursing.
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CNOR Examination
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As of July 2010, the CNOR certification examination lasts about three hours and 45 minutes. During this time, the applicant must answer 200 questions, all of which are in multiple-choice format. The questions cover nine domains of perioperative nursing practice: patient assessment and diagnosis; the identification of expected outcomes and development of a plan of care; intraoperative activities; communication; discharge planning; the cleaning, disinfecting, packaging and sterilizing of equipment; emergency situations; management of personnel services and material and professional accountability.
Fees
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There are a couple of fees a prospective perioperative nurse must pay to receive the CNOR credential. The first fee is a general application fee. If he is a member of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), the application fee is $295. If he is not a member, however, the fee goes up to $375. Assuming he submits his application and fee on time, the application fee is the only out-of-pocket expense. There is, however, an additional $75 fee if any required moneys or paperwork is submitted late.
Salary Potential
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A registered nurse with the CNOR credential has a salary potential that is partially dependent upon the hospital setting in which she works. Those working in general hospitals report a median salary of $76,700, as of July 2010. According to PayScale.com, those working in ambulatory care or surgery centers have a median salary of $73,900; those working in physicians’ offices or private practices report a median salary of $54,500. CNORs working in the military can expect a median salary of $77,900.
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References
- Photo Credit operation nurse image by Andrey Rakhmatullin from Fotolia.com
