Surgical Nurse Questions and Answers

Surgical Nurse Definition

A surgical nurse is a nursing professional that is trained to be able to assist during both routine and difficult surgical procedures. These types of nurses can be found around operating tables all across the word, assisting surgeons with both elective and life-saving procedures. (everynurse.org)

A surgical nurse, also referred to as a theatre nurse or scrub nurse, specializes in perioperative care, providing care to patients before, during and after surgery. To become a theatre nurse, Registered Nurses or Enrolled Nurses must complete extra training. (en.wikipedia.org)

What is a Surgical Nurse?

A surgical nurse is a health care professional who specializes in proving before, during and after surgical care to patients. However, most people aren’t aware that there are many types of surgical nurses. (www.besthealthdegrees.com)

How to Become a Surgical Nurse

A surgical nurse is a nursing professional that is trained to be able to assist during both routine and difficult surgical procedures. These types of nurses can be found around operating tables all across the word, assisting surgeons with both elective and life-saving procedures. (everynurse.org)

Surgical Nurse Categories

Most people are familiar with general surgical nurses, who assist during standard operations, such as gallbladder removals. However, there are vascular surgical nurses, who participate in vein repairs, and colo-rectal surgical nurses, who may assist during colon surgery. Orthopaedic surgical nurses tend to work with older patients who need hip or knee replacement surgery. There are also surgical oncology nurses, who help reduce or remove tumors, and urological surgical nurses who assist with prostate surgeries. Finally, there are ambulatory surgical nurses who work in emergency departments. However, all surgical nurses work in similar environments, such as surgical wards, intensive care units and emergency care centers. (www.besthealthdegrees.com)

4 Kinds of Surgical Nursing

Scrub Nurse

A scrub nurse will sterilize the treatment area and prepare the Operating Room (OR) for surgery; this includes organizing and cleaning equipment. Scrub nurses need to be familiar with a variety of surgeries and approaches, as potential complications must be accounted for and all needed tools available. Once a surgical scrub has been completed, a scrub nurse cannot break protocol at risk of contaminating the operating environment. Good communication must be maintained with circulating and charge nurses to maintain the sterile setting and limit risk of infection to the patient. Without scrub nurses, surgeons would not have the tools they need to safely perform surgery.

Circulating Nurse

The circulating nurse works outside of the sterile environment. From a distance, the circulating nurse coordinates and manages the surgical team, assisting with item retrieval and ensuring complete cohesion within the team. Anesthetized patients are unable to express themselves during surgery, so the circulating nurse must be familiar with their wants and needs and be prepared to act as the patient’s voice. The role also includes careful documentation so the nurse may inform the patient and approved family members of all pertinent details regarding their operation. Without circulating nurses, scrub nurses wouldn’t be able to prepare the area and the patient’s needs might not be fully met.

OR Charge Nurse

While the circulating nurse ensures good communication is maintained within the OR, the charge nurse maintains an open channel of communication between family, patients and the surgical team. This includes assigning nurses to fill specific roles, managing admissions and discharges, scheduling operations and ordering equipment. This kind of OR nurse must be very familiar with the inner workings of provided surgeries to guarantee proper equipment is supplied and an appropriate amount of time is allotted. Without charge nurses, the tools, rooms and time slots for surgeries would not be provided and surgeries could not be completed. OR change nurses are compensated on the high end of a typical OR nursing salary.

Outpatient Surgery Nurse

Outpatient surgical nursing differs from all of the above forms of nursing in that there is no extended stay, with most patients leaving the same day. This requires the surgical team to operate smoothly, without any miscalculation. The nurses assigned to an outpatient center must be familiar with up-to-date practices and community resources to promote quick recovery. Occasionally outpatient surgery nurses assist with non-surgical duties including provision of IVs and transfusions on an outpatient basis. Outpatient surgery nurses fill many roles so as to promote their patients' health and speedy return to the community.
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