Why Be a Perioperative Nurse

Thinking about a specialty for your nursing career? One of the highest in demand is a perioperative nurse (formerly called a surgical nurse or operating room nurse). With expanding hospital surgical departments, the growing number of outpatient surgery centers, and increasing in-office/clinic invasive procedures, the need for skilled perioperative nurses is climbing.
Job satisfaction for perioperative nurses is high, with one survey reporting up to 90% of these nurses rating their satisfaction 5-out-of-5 or 4-out-of-5. (Among all registered nurses, overall job satisfaction is about 80%.)

What does a perioperative nurse do?

Perioperative nurses provide care to patients during all phases of surgery. They are indispensable team members and advocates for patients who are unable to speak for themselves.

Before surgery:

• Perform pre-op screenings with patients.
• Ensure the informed consent is signed and placed in the patient’s medical record.
• Complete all necessary paperwork and documentation.
• Check the latest lab and test results, report variances to the surgeon.
• Answer questions and provide support for the patient and their family.
• Sterilizing the operating room and setting up surgical instruments and equipment.
• Positioning and securing the patient on the operating table.
• Crucial role in the “time-out” process to prevent surgical errors.

During surgery:

• Scrub nurse: selecting and passing instruments to surgeons, following surgeon’s instructions, maintaining a sterile surgical field. Scrub nurses work directly with surgeons and anesthesiologists, anticipating surgical needs.
• Circulating nurse: overall nursing care in the operating room and ensuring an efficient procedure.
• Monitoring vital signs, overseeing patient care.
• Coordinating logistics and flow of supplies, equipment, and personnel.
• Updating family members during the procedure.

After surgery:

• Close monitoring of unconscious patients.
• Provide immediate post-op care before transfer to PACU.
• Giving report to PACU nurses.
• Breaking down the operating room to prepare for sterilization.

Pros and Cons of perioperative nursing

PROS:

• Essential member of a multidisciplinary team
• Work with patients of all ages
• A wide variety of procedures and evolving techniques
• Intricate knowledge of the human body
• Meaningful and rewarding work
• Only one patient at a time
• Close team bonds
• Always in demand

CONS:

• Physically demanding
• Stressful environment
• Standing for long periods
• Inadequate break periods
• Exposure to potential hazards
• Limited patient interaction
• Extensive training
• May require being on-call

Skills and requirements for a successful perioperative nurse

• Nursing degree and professional licensure
• Thrive in fast-paced work environment
• Meticulous attention to detail
• Ability to deal with unexpected complications
• Excellent technical skills
• Patience and flexibility
• Good listening and communication

Specialties and certifications for perioperative nurses
Advance your career by obtaining a certification from the Competency and Credentialing Institute. After two years of clinical experience, Registered Nurses are eligible to apply for certification as a Certified Nurse-Operating Room (CNOR). The examination covers Patient Care and Safety; Infection Prevention can Control; Pre/Postoperative Patient Assessment & Diagnosis; Documentation; and Professional Accountability. Over 40,000 perioperative nurses hold this certification.

Nurses with less than two years’ experience can become a Certified Foundational Perioperative Nurse (CFPN), which offers a fast-track to future certifications.

For nurses who work in an ambulatory surgery setting, there is a specific Certified Ambulatory Surgery Nurse (CNAMB) certification.

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How to Become a Nurse Practitioner
This Is How You Become a Travel Nurse
10 Most Promising Nursing Careers You Might Consider
40 Types of Nurses the World Needs Right Now

About the Author

Winona Suzanne Ball

Nursing Adviser, RN | MHS, Governors State University, IL
Full member of the American Nurses Association. Learn more