A medical-surgical nurse assists with surgeries and performs pre-operative duties, monitors vital signs, and provides post-operative care. They require exceptional surgical care skills, good communication, stamina, and ongoing education. To become one, a registered nurse must complete additional training and certification.
A medical-surgical nurse is a registered nurse who has successfully completed ancillary training and education in surgical procedures. He traditionally assists surgeons and other nurses in hospital operating rooms. Your work environment could be a small private medical facility or a large, full-service hospital.
In addition to assisting with a wide range of surgeries and procedures, a medical-surgical nurse also often performs pre-operative duties. He can record the patient’s medical history and review the results of the patient’s medical tests with the surgeon before the procedure begins. If special physical preparations or medications are required, the medical-surgical nurse may be assigned to perform these functions. Checking a patient’s vital signs is traditionally part of this nurse’s job.
Once in the operating room, the responsibilities of a medical-surgical nurse can vary. He can continue to monitor the patient’s vital statistics, label samples collected during the operative procedure, dress and pressurize wounds and organs, or pass on the instruments and tools requested by the surgeon. These jobs can be performed by a nurse or shared by a team of nurses and doctors.
Once the surgery is complete, a medical-surgical nurse’s work typically continues on the ward or in the patient’s room as recovery begins. He typically checks vital signs before and after the patient regains consciousness. When the patient is alert, the nurse usually comforts them and provides therapeutic medication. He usually changes dressings and notifies the attending physician of any abnormalities observed in the initial healing process.
To be a successful medico-surgical nurse requires exceptional surgical care skills as well as the ability to make snap decisions in highly charged atmospheres where lives can hang in the balance. Keeping the operating room well organized helps facilitate procedures and avoid interruptions in medical communications. The ability to converse clearly with patients and families is also important in this position.
This position often requires long hours and several consecutive shifts. Excellent stamina and good general health are important to meet the physical and mental demands of the job. Ongoing education is necessary to stay well-informed about new surgical procedures.
To become a medical-surgical nurse, one must first be a registered nurse. A registered nurse usually has a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Many regions and surrounding areas also require a registered nurse to hold a license in addition to a university degree. A medical-surgical nurse usually requires additional training and certification.
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