Surgical Nurse Research Paper

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.

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.

What Does a Surgical Nurse Do?

They will provide pre-procedure instructions to the patient, administer any medications and assist other health care professionals with things like sterilization and starting IV lines. Once the procedure begins, they must monitor the patients’ vital signs, pass instruments to the surgeons and operate surgical equipment. If there are any issues, such as erratic vital signs, they must communicate this with the team. They must be also prepared to perform lifesaving procedures if necessary. They are also responsible for post-surgical care, such as transporting the patient to their room, monitoring their status and providing care. Post-surgical care also involves administering medications, taking vitals and educating the patient about post-operative