3 Key Takeaways
Becoming an operating room nurse requires formal education, registered nurse licensing, and specialized learning.
The three main types of OR nurses are scrub nurses, circulating nurses, and registered nurse first assistants.
OR nurses play a critical role in patient safety before, during, and after surgery.
As their title suggests, operating room (OR) nurses work in the operating rooms of hospitals, clinics, or surgery centers. OR nurses are also known as surgical or perioperative nurses.
These nurses take care of patients before, during, and after surgical procedures. They may interact with families and manage patients’ treatment plans. They may work directly with surgeons during surgery, or more behind the scenes, preparing sterile environments for procedures. All of these tasks take specialized skills.
To become an OR nurse, you need to complete a nursing education program, obtain your registered nurse (RN) license, and then (depending on the employer) complete a perioperative training or certification program. Here is a look at what an OR nurse does, how you can become one, and the types of OR nursing roles.
OR Nurse Job Description
OR nurses are RNs who specialize in a type of medical-surgical nursing called perioperative nursing. Perioperative nursing can be divided into three areas: preoperative (before surgery), intraoperative (during surgery), and postoperative (after surgery).
Employers seek nurses with a range of technical skills for OR nursing roles, including expertise in aseptic technique, instrument identification, procedural anticipation, and specimen management. They also value soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, accountability, and organization.
Daily Tasks of an OR Nurse
OR nursing is a dynamic role, requiring nurses to work in complex and fast-paced environments, think critically under stress, and handle multiple priorities. As a member of the surgical care team, an OR nurse has duties that vary based on whether they are caring for patients before, during, or after surgery. Daily tasks may include:
Updating patient records with the types of medications and anesthesia administered
Stocking the OR with medical supplies and setting up instruments and equipment
Managing sterile fields
Monitoring patients’ vital signs during surgery
Answering patients’ postoperative care and recovery questions
Collaborating with the surgical team on OR availability and surgery scheduling
How to Become an OR Nurse
OR nurses begin their careers by earning a nursing diploma, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). After graduating, they must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) and apply for a state registered nurse license.
After licensure, nurses typically work one to two years as RNs to gain experience in medical-surgical nursing, ambulatory care, or general acute care. Some facilities require OR nurses to obtain specialized certification or complete training, such as the Periop 101 curriculum offered by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN).
After at least two years and 2,400 hours of perioperative nursing experience, including 1,200 hours of intraoperative experience, nurses can apply for the certified perioperative nurse (CNOR) credential through the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI). While optional, certification can help you stand out and demonstrate your expertise.
Types of OR Nurses
Different types of OR nurses take on unique responsibilities to support patient care during the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases.
Scrub Nurse
Scrub nurses work directly with surgeons in an OR’s sterile field. They ensure that the correct surgical instruments and equipment, including gowns, gloves, drapes, and solutions, are available. They are also responsible for passing instruments, sponges, and other items to surgeons during the procedures. They may monitor patients as they wake up from anesthesia after surgery.
Circulating Nurse
Circulating nurses manage patients and surgical suites throughout the three operative phases. Their main role is to create and maintain a comfortable environment for patients inside and outside the OR, usually outside the sterile field. Essentially, they “circulate” to ensure that things are proceeding smoothly. That includes ensuring that materials such as supplies and paperwork are ready before the surgery. Circulating nurses monitor nursing care within the OR and during the postoperative recovery phase.
Registered Nurse First Assistant
With extensive extra training, registered nurse first assistants (RNFAs) provide the most direct surgical care. They might perform tasks alongside the surgeon such as controlling bleeding, suturing (stitching), and monitoring patients for complications.
Learn the Skills to Become an OR Nurse
If OR nursing sounds interesting to you, Saint Paul’s School of Nursing offers an Associate Degree in Nursing program that prepares you with a strong foundation to enter the nursing profession and pursue a nursing specialty. This program is offered at the Staten Island, New York, campus and the Queens, New York, campus. Both locations offer laboratory work, supervised clinical experiences, and courses in pharmacology, microbiology, advanced medical-surgical nursing, and nutrition.
Request more information or give us a call at (855) 822-3018 to speak to one of our admissions advisors or to schedule a campus tour.
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