The Job Of A Surgical Nursing Professional

Anyone who has ever watched a syndicated episode of M.A.S.H

. probably entertains some basic notions about the role that nurses play during the surgical process. That television program - classic though it may be - offers but a glimpse into the importance of the nurse during these procedures. Far from being mere instrument-passing automatons, surgical nursing professionals are critically important components of any operation. The role of surgical nursing is to ensure that every patient suffers a minimum of complications from their surgery.

Surgical nursing professionals do assist the attending surgeon and his or her team with the operation, although their roles are dependent upon the type of surgical procedure being performed. However, their roles go much deeper than that, as they are usually the members of the surgical team that spend the greatest amount of time with the patients prior to the surgery. In that capacity, it is their responsibility to ensure that they familiarize themselves with the patient's history so that they can identify any unique needs that need to be addressed.

To perform their duties, surgical nursing professionals must have a combination of personal as well as clinical skill sets. From answering all of the patient's questions regarding the surgery - as well as concerns raised by the patient's family, to making sure that the patient is comfortable with the procedure that is about to be performed, these nursing practitioners help to prepare the patient for the ordeal they are about to undergo. Because of these necessary functions, the best surgical nurses are empathetic and have a high level of intuition.

Within the operating room, surgical nursing entails a keen attention to detail, excellent observational skills, and quick reaction times. When the patient is unable to convey his or her discomfort during surgery, it is the nurse's charge to ensure that subtle signs of distress are picked up on and conveyed to the rest of the surgical team. Even the smallest changes in vital signs can often signify the onset of complications, and surgical nursing staff is uniquely qualified to interpret those changes.

Though a majority of surgical nursing professionals currently work within traditional hospital settings, changes in the way health care is delivered will gradually result in a transition to more of these procedures being performed in clinics and emergency rooms. It is a demanding profession, as even the smallest decisions made within the operating room can have critical implications for the patient. Often times, these nurses have only seconds to react when complications arise!

Still, the surgical nursing profession has many attractive qualities as well. In general, these nurses are responsible for no more than five or six patients at a time, which enables them to completely focus on those patients' needs both before and after surgery is performed. Because of this focus, many nurses find a career in surgical nursing as rewarding as it is challenging. The reward stems from the ability to deal with a select few patients at a time. The challenge comes in the depth of care and attention that each of those patients requires.

by: Karen Williams

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