During this process, you will also be expected to give the patient pre-procedure instructions and measure or record their vital signs. This might involve starting intravenous lines, administering any medications, and sterilising and marking the incision sites.
The anaesthetic state primarily involves assisting the anesthesiologist and anaesthetic nurse. Here, you may find yourself preparing specialist operational equipment, devices and medications. At this point, you will have to be on hand for the anaesthetics team, however, they may need you, monitoring the vital signs of the patient to ensure they are responding correctly to the drugs.
As you would expect, the surgical phase is the most intensive stage of the perioperative process. Importantly, the surgical nurse acts as the primary point of contact between the surgical team and other teams and departments throughout the hospital. You will need to ensure any important information is communicated where necessary with effectiveness and clarity. If an emergency should occur, you might also be required to perform life-saving procedures.
This may involve elements such as changing dressings, administering medications and carrying out any instructions given by the surgeon. You will be expected to offer the patient support upon arrival in the post-anaesthetic care unit, and monitor their health and care all the way through until they are back on a general ward.
You will also be responsible for assessing whether the patient should be discharged back onto a ward. The role of a surgical nurse is intensive and fast-paced. Every surgical nurse must be calm, pragmatic and efficient.
Your responsiveness to change and performance under pressure will perhaps need to be even stronger than that of a general nurse, because of the high-pressure environment of the operating theatre. You also need to be compassionate and able to reassure patients before surgery and after emergency procedures. Communication is also essential — both with members of the surgical team, other departments, patients and their families.
A truly brilliant surgical nurse will also foster an inquisitive attitude towards their work. This means keeping up-to-date with the latest developments in healthcare research and best practice, which they will achieve through undergoing any additional training courses and keeping up with sector news via nursing blogs.
There are many things that make working as a surgical nurse rewarding. Their primary responsibilities are to provide patient care, assist the operating room staff, and document observations and procedures. A surgical nurse assists with patient care during surgery and in pre- and post-operative healthcare settings.
On a day-to-day basis, a surgical nurse may be assigned to patients who are in preoperative, postoperative, and intensive care units. They are the bridge between the surgical team and the patient. Surgical nurses also may assist the surgeon during surgery. They sterilize surgical instruments and help set up equipment for surgery. Following surgery, they advise physicians and other health professionals about patient progress in the recovery room. They also ensure that patient needs are met, such as taking vitals and monitoring anesthesia levels.
In addition to their clinical duties, surgical nurses provide education about expected outcomes and recovery to patients and their families before the surgery takes place. There are many sub-specialties within the surgical field, including cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, urology, trauma, oncology, orthopedics, transplant surgery, reconstructive and plastic surgery, and general surgery.
Surgical nurses may perform various roles in any of these perioperative settings, including:. Surgical nurses are professionals who work in health care facilities to help supervise and administer medical treatments.
They are most often found in hospitals or medical clinics and work under the supervision of doctors or a registered nurse RN. They may be employed on the wards for routine patient care, but some staff surgical nurses for operations. Surgical nurses and surgical technologists are both important members of a surgical team, including surgeons and anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists. All surgical personnel maintain a sterile field during surgery and follow strict infection control precautions.
Both surgical nurse and surgical technologist roles provide the clinical expertise associated with patient care. Their work varies in significance and complexity, but both provide an essential role in the success of a surgery. These tasks include inspecting surgical equipment, verifying the patient's identity and seeing that the 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 could affect the patient's care. With further education and training, a surgical nurse may assume the role of RN first assistant.
Your duties in this job will include watching for complications and monitoring the patient's vital signs—blood pressure, heart rate and respiration. Should trouble arise, you will immediately alert the doctor. This position also involves performing CPR, controlling bleeding and suturing wounds in addition to applying dressings and bandages. You will also perform patient assessments prior to surgery and before discharge.
Aside from the three main categories of perioperative nurse roles, you may also work as an operating room director. This job encompasses managing all the business aspects, to include budgets and staffing.
Working as a director could later serve as a stepping stone to other careers, such as a clinical educator or managerial consultant. The job setting you choose could be a hospital or day surgery unit as well as a clinic or doctor's office.
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