Chandler Walters was in critical condition when she was born—she wasn’t breathing and her body had the muscle tone of a rag doll. If it hadn’t been for the quick work of the operating room staff—including the attending surgical or perioperative nurse—Chandler might not have survived.

Fortunately, surgical nurses encounter life-and-death situations only occasionally. Theirs is a rewarding profession that you should investigate if you are considering a health career.

The surgical nurse plays two roles: First, he or she assists the surgeon and the surgical team in the surgical procedure itself. The exact role varies depending on the nature and extent of the surgery. Second, he or she spends time with the patient before surgery, knows the patient’s medical history thoroughly, and advises the surgical team of issues that could alter the way the procedure will be performed. The surgical nurse’s most important responsibility is to ensure that the patient’s medical needs are considered and that the patient comes through the surgery with as few complications as possible.

How does the surgical nurse accomplish all this? By having—and combining—people skills and clinical skills. For example, in the preoperative visit with the patient, it’s important for the nurse to probe the medical record, ask pertinent questions about the patient’s condition that the surgeon needs to know about, and answer the patient’s questions honestly. It’s also important to put the patient at ease—not always an easy task. The nurse also checks vital signs and reviews lab reports.

During surgery, the nurse focuses on the patient and supports the rest of the surgical team. It’s during surgery that the nurse’s ability to interpret the patient’s vital signs or previously spoken preferences is crucial. After surgery, the nurse monitors the patient’s condition as he or she comes out of anesthesia and begins the process of healing.

A good surgical nurse is caring, sympathetic, and intuitive. The operating room nurse must also be able to make quick decisions based on his or her knowledge and experience. The nurse must be able to communicate the patient’s needs to the surgeon and to the anesthesiologist, sometimes—as in the case of Chandler—within a few seconds of identifying the nature and seriousness of the patient’s distress.

Most surgical nurses work in conventional hospitals. However, that is likely to change as health care becomes more sophisticated and specialized—and as practice settings become more diverse. In the future, more and more surgical nurses will work in ambulatory “surgicenters,” clinics, and emergency medical centers.

To become a surgical nurse, students must complete a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or B.S.N., program, then pass their own state’s certification program. Registered nurses can continue their education in surgical procedures and sit for an examination to become a certified nurse for the operating room (CNOR).

Find out more at the website of AORN, the Association of Operating Room Nurses, www.aorn.org. Click on “Students” to learn just what surgical nurses do. Related organizations include the American Nurses Association, www.nursingworld.org; the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, www.aacn.org; the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, www.aana.com; the Emergency Nurses Association, www.ena.org; and the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, www.medsurgnurse.org.

Article by Paul Adams and courtesy of www.careersandcolleges.com