Duties & Responsibilities of a Surgical Nurse
As with other nurses, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that the demand for surgical or perioperative nurses will grow by 23 percent through 2016. Surgical nurses perform a variety of duties before, during and after surgical procedures, depending on the type of surgical nurse they are.
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Scrub Nurse
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Scrub nurses work alongside surgeons during the operation, passing them instruments and supplies they need.
Circulating Nurse
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Circulating nurses do not scrub up with the surgical team and instead are available to deliver needed supplies or transport tissue samples. Circulating nurses often oversee scrub nurses in the operating room.
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RN First Assistant
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Registered nurse first assistants take the place of secondary physicians in some operating rooms, helping to control bleeding and stitch incisions.
Directors
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Surgical nursing directors ensure that proper staffing is available in the operating room and that it operates within budgetary guidelines. They also manage the ordering and stocking of supplies.
Other Duties
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Often, surgical nurses meet with patients before the procedure to explain what will happen. Afterward, they check on patients in the recovery room and report their progress to the attending surgeon.
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