Also called Medical-Surgical Nurses, Surgical Nursing is the oldest nursing specialty. These nurses are valued members of a surgical team, assisting surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals throughout surgery. As a Surgical Nurse, you’ll care for patients before, during and after the procedure. Your experience will provide you with a broad range of skills, since you’ll often work with patients with acute (critical) conditions and chronic illnesses.
Things You'll Do:
- Explain procedure and answer questions for patients before surgery
- Sterilize the operating room and monitor vital signs during surgery
- Manage post-operative care after surgery
Your job characteristics:
- Multifaceted
- Structured
- Patient-facing
How You'll Get There
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Get YourNursing Diploma, Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
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Take elective courses in medical-surgical nursing during school.
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Pass YourNational Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN)
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You can start working as a Registered Nurse.
More about becoming an RN › -
Get experience working in critical or intensive care, and working with surgical patients before applying to take your certification exam.
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Pass YourCertified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®) exam through the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses’ (AMSN) Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB)
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Become aCertified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurse (CMSRN®)
More About this Specialty
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Meet
Rosaread her story
Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse, RN
As a very small child, I was always mesmerized by the nursing profession.
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Meet Wallena
read her history
A CRNA
She was an auditor in New York City before she chose a career in nursing. "I wanted to give back on a daily basis, and be part of a caring profession.
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How Much You
Can Makean average salary of
$42K - $56Kfind salary by stateWhat Else You
Can Expect- As a Surgical Nurse, you can work as a scrub nurse, a circulating nurse, and an RN first assistant.
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