Get ready to uncover the fascinating world of OR nurses, where nurses make sure that everything in the operating room goes smoothly and provides support where needed. They not only assist other health care team members, but they are trained professionals who also provide emotional support to the patients and help them recover. If you want to choose OR nursing as your career, it is important to know the basics of what OR nurses do and what are the pros and cons of being an OR nurse.
What is an OR nurse?
OR stands for Operating Room, specialized nurses that assist doctors, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals before, during and after surgery. OR nurses are also known as perioperative nurses who make sure that the surgery goes smoothly, and patients are safe during surgery. There are different types of OR (operating room) nurses:
- Scrub nurse: these nurses work directly with surgeons in an operating room handling and sterilizing the instruments.
- Circulating nurses: Thay, make sure the operating room environment is sterilized and equipped with instruments used during surgery.
- PACU nurses: they make sure that the patient safely recovers from anesthesia after surgery.
What do OR nurses do?
The duty of OR nurses is not just to assist the surgeons, but they do much more than that. They make sure that the environment is clean, and instruments are sterilized, provide emotional support to the patients, check their vital signs, and take care of them after the surgery is done. Some of the responsibilities and duties of operating room nurses are as follows:
Duties before surgery or preoperative care:
- Checking patients’ medical history and current health status.
- Preparing the operating room, making sure everything is available and instruments are sterilized.
- Explain the procedure to the patient, answer their question and give emotional support to the patient.
- Positioning the patient properly for anesthesia.
Duties of OR nurses during surgery or Intra-operative care:
- Scrub nurses assist doctors and surgeons during surgery by handling tools and maintaining a sterile environment.
- Circulating nurses make sure surgeries go smoothly by providing additional supplies if needed and updating the patient’s family about the surgery. They also monitor the vital signs of the patients.
- Documenting everything correctly and accurately about the surgery.
Duties of OR nurses after surgery or post-operative care
- The OR nurses make sure that the patients recover safely from anesthesia after surgery and there are no complications.
- Providing instructions related to surgery to the patient and their family and discharging them once they recover.
Pros and Cons of being an OR nurse
If you are thinking of becoming an OR nurse, it is important to understand the pros and cons of being an OR nurse so it is easy for you to decide whether it is the right career choice for you. Some of the pros and cons of becoming an OR nurse are as follows.
Pros:
- High demand and job stability
- Job satisfaction and they contribute directly to patient outcomes.
- They learn a lot while dealing with a variety of surgeries and medical conditions.
- Competitive salary and benefits.
- Opportunities for specialization.
Cons:
- Long hours and shifts include nights, weekends and even holidays.
- Physically demanding.
- Work in high pressure and stressful environments.
- Risk of exposure to different infections etc.
- Mentally exhausting.
- Limited patient interaction.
Skills required to become successful OR nurse
Becoming a successful OR nurse requires specialized skills such as:
- Attention to detail.
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills in stressful situations.
- Physical and mental stamina
- Deep understanding and knowledge of the human body, medical procedures, and surgical instruments.
What are additional OR nurse certifications?
If you want to succeed as an OR nurse and want to grow professionally, then you can get additional certifications that can boost your career. These certifications are optional but have many benefits.
- CFPN Certified Foundational Perioperative Nurse
- CNOR Certified Perioperative Nurse
- CNAMB Certified Ambulatory Surgical Nurse
Is OR room nurse the same as the scrub nurse?
Yes, OR room nurses or scrub nurses work in an operating room assisting with surgeries.
What is the dress code for operating room nurses?
Operating room nurses or OR nurses are required to wear short sleeve, loose pants. Their shirts have V neck, and they are required to wear comfortable shoes as they will be standing for long g time. They also need to cover their head and wear masks during surgery.
Conclusion
OR nursing is a rewarding career choice with many benefits, such as professional growth and working with surgeons, but before becoming an OR nurse, it is important to know that it comes with its challenges. Cons of being an OR nurse include high physical and mental stamina, unpredictable hours, and much more. But no doubt, becoming an OR nurse has its benefits, too, such as high pay, job stability, and high demand. OR nurses need specialized skills to succeed in their careers, such as critical thinking, high physical stamina, etc. If you want to be more successful, you can get additional certificates to become an OR nurse, such as CFPN, CNOR, and CNAMB.
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