Nurses serve in a wide range of capacities in medical facilities. There are nurses in various fields of medicine, including surgical care. When surgery is needed, nurses are present in order to assist doctors.
This guide will cover the roles and responsibilities that nurses fill. While a surgeon will perform the important task of surgery, it takes a team to work together in order to make it successful. If you’re ready to take on the exciting challenge of nursing in a surgical care setting, find out what you will be expected to do.
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Surgical care nurses are well-educated and highly trained. They will typically have at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Some nurses pursue higher education to increase their expertise and career opportunities.
One option for graduates who have earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing is to pursue a career as a skilled nurse practitioner. This can open a wide variety of opportunities that will help them become impactful members of the medical community. The first step is enrolling in a family nurse practitioner program through a reputable institution such as Carson-Newman University. These programs are available online to make the process easier for working nurses. Graduates will then need to take a nurse practitioner exam and successfully pass it in order to become a nurse practitioner. Students gain skills in advanced pharmacology, advanced health assessments and advanced primary care nursing.
After clearing this hurdle, it’s always important to consider which surgical specialty you want to work in. Keep in mind that there are plenty of different specialties, such as general surgery, orthopedic surgery and pediatric surgery, among others. They will all require similar educational credentials and licensing.
Once you finish your education, the job search begins. While you are receiving your education, it is important to prepare yourself to find a position by building your network of fellow nurse practitioners and other medical personnel.
It also helps to learn about what lies ahead for nurse practitioners who plan to work in the operating room.
An operating room is fully equipped with the latest technology and tools to make surgery just a routine thing for doctors. Keep in mind that while many instruments and tools look the same in almost every field, there may be others that are specially designed for certain surgeries, such as arthroscopic knee surgery.
Typically, you’ll see a ventilator or breathing machine for patients who undergo surgery while under general anesthesia. You’ll see a diathermy machine for the purpose of controlling any bleeding and a variety of instruments placed on a stainless-steel table.
If you notice the operating room’s temperature is cooler than the regular room temperature, don’t panic. The cool temperature is intentionally set to minimize the growth of bacteria so it can help decrease the risk of post-surgical complications.
A surgical nurse will effectively communicate with the patient before, during and after the surgical procedure. They ensure that the environment is safe for the patient while they help prepare them for what is about to happen.
Surgical nurses are assigned different roles during surgery. Let’s take a look at the following types:
This nurse is responsible for passing instruments to the doctor when they are requested. During the preparation process, they count the number of tools that will be used for the procedure to ensure everything is present and accounted for. They will perform another count after the surgery is complete to ensure that all the tools are accounted for, and nothing is left behind — such as inside the patient.
After the operation is complete, the scrub nurse will prepare the patient for transportation from the operating room to the recovery room.
This nurse will inspect the equipment that will be used for the surgery. They will also check with the patient to confirm that the consent forms were signed by themselves and verify next of kin in the event of something that could happen. They will also confirm the patient’s identity to ensure they are the correct person to receive the correct procedure.
They will work with the doctor to ensure that special concerns are addressed in an effort to make sure that the patient is cared for safely. Finally, they will also assist the anesthesiologist with the patient.
The registered nurse’s first assistant will monitor the vital signs of the patient. They will also look out for any complications that may arise. If they see something wrong, they will alert the doctor immediately.
Their role becomes more critical in the event that anything goes wrong. They will control bleeding and perform CPR. Otherwise, they will perform the task of suturing wounds and applying dressings and bandages upon completion.
If necessary, they can perform patient assessments prior to surgery and eventually discharge patients from the hospital. Out of the many surgical nurse roles, this role is the most critical and for good reason. Their attention to detail must be sharp, especially in situations where things could go wrong in a surgical setting.
Surgical nurses may be assigned different roles from one surgery to the next. During one surgery, they may be the scrub nurse, while they may act as the first assistant the next. Surgical nurses will fulfill plenty of roles and responsibilities that will make things easier for the doctor.
While a surgical doctor performs the all-important task, the nurses who work alongside the doctor are also vital. They are the extra eyes and ears of the doctor and will perform a series of tasks to ensure that every surgery is successful and without issue. If you are ready to take on the challenge of becoming a surgical nurse, it starts with the right education.
Their attention to detail must be sharp, especially in situations where things could go wrong in a surgical setting.
Surgical nurses may be assigned different roles from one surgery to the next. During one surgery, they may be the scrub nurse, while they may act as the first assistant the next. Surgical nurses will fulfill plenty of roles and responsibilities that will make things easier for the doctor.
While a surgical doctor performs the all-important task, the nurses that work alongside the doctor are also vital. They are the extra eyes and ears of the doctor and will perform a series of tasks to ensure that every surgery is successful and without issue. If you are ready to take on the challenge of becoming a surgical nurse, it starts with the right education.
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