What Does a Surgical Nurse Do?
A nurse’s work influences a 医疗保健 facility’s ability to provide optimal patient care. One of the most important examples of this influence is in an operating room (OR) environment. 外科护士, also known as perioperative nurses or OR nurses, provide specialized patient care throughout the surgery process. What exactly does a 外科护士 do, and why are their duties so important?
的 precise duties of a 外科护士 are complex and varied. Developing an understanding of the role’s responsibilities and the 教育需求 对于这个职位. This will help you determine if pursuing a route to gain the experience and any additional certifications required to become a specialized 外科护士 role will align with your interests and your desired 护理 career path.
Surgical Nurse Job Description
外科护士 help coordinate patient care before, 在, 手术后. 的y’re typically tasked with maintaining a safe patient environment. 的y also work with other 医疗保健 professionals to ensure that they’re fully equipped with what they need to provide the right kind of surgical patient care.
Three broad types of 外科护士 roles are available. 的 first type is a scrub nurse. 这些专业 注册护士(RNs) focus their duties mainly on directly preparing for the surgical process. 的 second type is a circulating nurse; these RNs work outside the sterile field and don’t participate in the surgical process.
A third type of 外科护士 role, 注册护士第一助理, can also be pursued with further education and training. 的se nurses manage patient care before, 在, and after a surgery.
Work Environment for Surgical Nurses
而 外科护士 always work in surgical environments, they can work in various facilities. 的y’re often employed in acute care hospitals, which provide different levels of trauma care. 的y can also work in outpatient surgery centers, which conduct surgeries that don’t require overnight hospital stays.
清洁护士职责
Scrub nurses assist the surgical team by donning sterile masks, 手套, and gowns and passing instruments 在 surgery. 以下操作, the job involves clearing away the tools and preparing the patient for transport to the recovery room. 的y also count the instruments and equipment used 在 surgery (sponges, 医疗 supplies) to ensure that everything used is accounted f或者一个nd that nothing was acci牙科ly left elsewhere, 比如在病人体内.
流动护士职责
Circulating nurses take a more indirect approach to patient care in surgical situations. 的ir duties have a broader perspective, focusing on maintaining a safe and comfortable environment. 的ir responsibilities include inspecting surgical equipment, verifying the patient’s identity, and seeing that the patient’s family has signed the necessary consent forms. Other duties involve assisting the anesthesiologist with a patient and conferring with the surgeon about special concerns that can affect the patient’s care.
Registered Nurse First Assistant Duties
RN first assistants are responsible f或者一个 wide range of tasks. 的ir duties include watching for complications and monitoring the patient’s vital signs, 包括血压, 心率, 和呼吸. Should trouble arise, RN first assistants will immediately alert the doctor. 的ir role also involves performing CPR, 控制出血, 缝合伤口, and applying dressings and bandages. 的y may also perform patient assessments before surgery and before discharge.
Surgical Nurse Education, 经验, and Fundamental 技能
Regardless of what a 外科护士 does through their various duties, their work requires a finely honed level of knowledge and skills. To obtain this acumen, candidates must commonly complete several steps before pursuing the role.
教育和执照
An undergraduate degree is typically required to pursue RN roles such as 外科护士. An 护理学副学士 (与) 或者一个 Bachelor of Science in 护理 (BSN) can deepen your knowledge and skills to prepare you f或者一个n RN career.
Because all RNs must be licensed in their state of practice, you must also pass the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) before applying f或者一个 外科护士 role. You can take this exam after you earn your undergraduate degree.
经验
外科护士 must develop experience in a supervised setting before pursuing the role. 在很多州, RNs are required to have two years or more of experience before pursuing certification to become a scrub or OR nurse. This experience will allow them to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom in an environment conducive to proper patient care. 护理 school programs typically feature coursework built around hands-on training in a controlled environment. You may also be able to earn further clinical experience through an internship, 指导计划, 或者做志愿者.
技能
外科护士 must have strong scientific and 医疗 knowledge. Understanding concepts such as anatomy, 生理学, and microbiology allows professionals to recognize and interpret potential issues that may develop throughout the surgical and postsurgical process.
Attention to detail is also an essential skill for 外科护士. This skill applies to monitoring patients to ensure that they detect any complications. It also applies to simple yet crucial tasks, such as taking inventory of instruments and equipment used in a surgery.
外科护士 must also be skilled communicators. 的y typically work with other 医疗保健 professionals before, 在, 手术后, so they need to be able to relay vital information about a patient’s condition in clear, 明确的条款.
外科护士职业展望
而美国.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t specifically project job growth for the 外科护士 role, it does project approximately 193,100 open positions for RNs each year between 2022 and 2032. 的se openings stem from increased demand for 医疗保健 services and the transition of RNs into retirement, 更高级的护理角色, 或者不同的领域.
Take On a Crucial Role in 医疗保健
外科护士 provide care at a unique time in the overall patient journey. Whether the patient is in need of a simple outpatient procedure 或者一个 more complex surgery brought about by a traumatic event, 外科护士 help the process run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Ultimately, their work can be crucial f或者一个 医疗保健 facility looking to improve patient outcomes.
的 护理学校课程 在富通，包括 与 program, can help prepare you to be ready for this important role as you gain experience in the field. Our programs are designed to help you establish a strong knowledge base and skill set to pursue your chosen 护理 role with confidence. Learn more about how the Fortis 护理 team can help you make a differe在护理行业.
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