How to Become a Surgical Nurse in California
Becoming a surgical nurse in the state of California requires considerable training and extensive education. Surgical or perioperative nurses provide care to patients before, during and after surgery. The time and money spent becoming a nurse can be worth the investment; Simplyhired.com notes that surgical nurses in the state of California made an average salary of $63,000 as of November 2010. Furthermore, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the number of jobs for nurses will increase by 22 percent from 2008 to 2018.
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Instructions
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Obtain the proper level of education. To work as a surgical nurse in the state of California, you must first be a registered nurse. Registered nurses have either an associate or bachelor's degree in nursing. Nurses with a bachelor's degree usually have more training in specialty areas like surgical nursing. Find a nursing program that gives you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in surgical nursing as part of your education.
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Complete the state licensing requirements to be a registered nurse in California. All states require registered nurses to complete a national licensing exam known as the NCLEX-RN. The state of California requires that you complete a fingerprint background check in addition to passing the licensing exam. Once you are registered, you can begin preparation to work as a surgical nurse.
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Obtain additional experience by working for two or three years as a registered nurse. You may not be able to work as a surgical nurse yet, but gaining as much experience as possible can help you gain employment as a surgical nurse once you have met all education and certification requirements. If possible, work in a hospital setting and volunteer to assist in surgery whenever possible. You may be working alongside another nurse, but you will gain valuable hands-on experience.
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Complete a master's degree with an emphasis in surgical nursing or a certificate program that allows you to gain additional education in surgical nursing. Both paths are typically available for you to learn the ins and the outs of perioperative nursing practice. Most programs will have additional clinical experiences build into the curriculum. Utilize as much of this experience as possible to enhance your resume.
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Obtain certification as a surgical nurse through a professional organization like the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN). This step is usually taken after you have already worked as a surgical nurse for a couple of years, but it can solidify your position with your current employer or help you obtain another position later on if you decide that you need a change of work venue. AORN requires that you have two year of experience and 2,000 hours of work in the last three years in a medical-surgical setting before you can be certified. Certification involves passing an examination adminsitered by the agency.
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