How to Become a Surgical Nurse
People around the world benefit from the services provided by operating rooms (OR), and operating rooms rely on surgical nurses. If this career path piques your interest, you may be asking yourself — what do these nurses do? And what does it take to become one? Keep reading to learn the answers to those questions and more.
What Is a Surgical Nurse and What Does a Surgical Nurse Do?
A surgical nurse assists physicians with a variety of invasive procedures that take place in operating rooms. Examples of their tasks include:
- Managing pain
- Monitoring for complications
- Providing physicians with correct instruments
- Providing education to patients and family
- Monitoring patients post-surgery
- Creating and adjusting care plans
- Applying bandages and stitches
Types of Surgical Nurses
There are a variety of surgical nurse subspecialties you can choose from:
- Scrub nurse: Provide the physician with the correct surgical tools in a timely manner.
- Pre-op nurse: Prepare patients for surgeries by reviewing medical history, educating patients about the surgical process, assessing physical readiness, and coordinating logistics.
- Circulating nurse: Manage OR activities outside of the operation itself, such as ensuring consent forms are signed, inspecting surgical equipment, updating family members, and more.
- Registered nurse first assistant (RNFA): Assist physicians with surgery, apply bandages, watch for signs of complications, control bleeding, and perform other surgical needs.
- Post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurse: Monitor and stabilize patients immediately after surgery before they’re transferred to the medical-surgical unit or ICU.
How to Become a Surgical Nurse
1. Earn a Nursing Degree
Your surgical nurse education begins in nursing school. First, surgical nurses must earn their bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) from an accredited program, which typically takes four years. There are a variety of ways to obtain your BSN, depending on your unique situation. For example, if you have a prior degree — such as an associate degree in nursing (ADN) — you can pursue accelerated programs or bridge programs.
2. Pass the National Licensure Exam
After you complete your formal education, you must pass the NCLEX-RN to prove you have the foundational knowledge to work as an entry-level nurse. After passing, you can apply to your state board of nursing for your license, which legally permits you to practice as an RN.
3. Gain Clinical Experience
Once you’ve passed the NCLEX, you need hands-on experience working as a nurse, preferably at an inpatient hospital.
4. Pursue Surgical Nurse Certification
To deepen your knowledge of this specialty, a certification can provide you with in-depth insight that you might not get through hands-on work alone. Though this step is optional, it can boost both your expertise as well as your appeal to potential employers. Below are some certifications to consider:
Certified Ambulatory Surgery Nurse (CNAMB)
- Eligibility requirements:
- Current unrestricted RN license
- Hold a pre-licensure degree or higher
- Currently working full or part time in ambulatory setting with a minimum of 2 years and 2,400 hours of experience, with a minimum of 500 hours in the intraoperative setting
- Certification objectives include:
- Intraoperative care
- Perioperative exam, assessment, and care plan
- Communication
- Post-operative transfer and care
- Professional accountability
- Management of personnel, services, and materials
- Instrument processing and supply management
- Emergency situations
Certified Foundational Perioperative (CFPN)
- Eligibility requirements:
- Current unrestricted RN license
- Certificate of completion from a perioperative orientation program
- Up to 23 months of experience from initial hire date
- Currently working full or part time in perioperative nursing, including clinical practice, education, administration, and research
- Certification objectives include:
- Pre/post-operative assessment and diagnosis
- Care plan development
- Intraoperative activity management
- Communication and documentation
- Infection control
- Emergency situations
- Professional accountability
Certified Registered Nurse First Assistant (CRNFA)
- Eligibility requirements include:
- Minimum of 2,000 hours of practice
- A bachelor’s degree or higher
- Certification objectives include:
- Recognize practice proficiency
- Strengthen theoretical knowledge of assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care
- Expansion of general specialty knowledge
Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR)
- Eligibility requirements include:
- A current and unrestricted RN license
- Currently working full or part time in perioperative clinical practice, administration, research, or nursing education
- A minimum or 2 years and 2,400 hours or experience, with a minimum of 1,200 hours in an intraoperative setting
- Certification objectives include:
- Pre/postoperative assessment and diagnosis
- Care plan development
- Intraoperative management and emergency situations
- Infection control
- Communication, documentation, and accountability
How Many Years Does It Take to Become a Surgical Nurse?
The number of years it takes to become a surgical nurse is unique to your educational and career paths. Traditional nursing schools take four years for full-time students. Afterwards, you need at least a year of experience in an inpatient setting. Based on this path, it can take between four to six years to begin working as a surgical nurse.
Where Can a Surgical Nurse Work?
Surgical nurses can work in a variety of environments. Some workplaces include:
- Inpatient hospitals
- Ambulatory surgical centers
- Plastic surgery centers
- Private practices
- Dental offices
- Emergency rooms
Key Surgical Nurse Qualities to Develop
One of the beauties of nursing is the large number of specialties from which you can choose. Although many of the required skills overlap, each one has traits that are especially important to hone. Below are some qualities that make these nurses successful.
Attention to Detail
In surgery, every minute counts. Surgical nurses must ensure that they pass the correct instruments and make clear observations in a timely manner. There’s little to no room for error in this environment.
Empathy
Working in the OR is your job, so engaging in invasive procedures is just another day. For your patients, surgery is a stressful, unfamiliar scenario. Be mindful of the fact that what’s routine to you is new to them, and they’re entrusting you and your teammates with their lives. A little empathy from you can go a long way for them.
Poise Under Pressure
There are times in which surgery can take unexpected turns, and those moments can be tense. Despite the anxiety you may understandably feel, you’re still expected to do your job well. It’s important to develop coping mechanisms that facilitate your ability to work well in spite of the stressors.
Clear Communication
During surgical procedures, time is precious and clear communication helps ensure every second is used efficiently. Cultivating this important soft skill greatly benefits you and your patients.
Surgical Nurse Salary
Knowing the normal salary range is an important part of evaluating a job offer. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t provide the exact salary for surgical nurses, it lists the average annual salary for RNs in medical and surgical hospitals as $96,830. This number is below the average annual salary for RNs that work in outpatient centers, which is $102,640. Salaries vary based upon your years of experience, education level, facility, and geographic location.
The states that pay the highest annual salaries to nurses are:
Is Becoming a Surgical Nurse Right for You?
Now that you have more insight into this specialty, you can make an informed decision about whether or not it’s a good fit. If you’re ready to make career moves, you can find specialized nursing jobs in your preferred location and specialty through IntelyCare.