The Job Description of a Theater Nurse

Theater nurses work in the operating room helping surgeons and anesthesiologists.

Theater nurses are also known as surgical technologists, or commonly as scrubs. They work in operating rooms and assist surgeons and anesthesiologists.

Function

A theater nurse prepares the operating room for surgery and assembles the surgical instruments used in the operation. Theater nurses may also hold or pass equipment to the surgeons, and they are responsible for safely discarding any used supplies, such as syringes, once the surgery is over.

Skills

A theater nurse needs good interpersonal skills and the ability to put patients at ease. If asked by the patient, a theater nurse should be able to clearly explain the surgical procedure.

Qualifications

Theater nurses are registered nurses with either a bachelor's degree, an associate degree or a diploma in nursing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Earnings

The average salary for nurses working in hospitals in 2008 was $63,880, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nurses receive regular benefits, including health insurance, paid holidays and retirement plans.

Prospects

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for nurses in a hospital environment will grow by 17 percent up to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all jobs in the U.S.

References

• Doc Stoc: Theatre Nurse Job Description
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Registered Nurses