How to Become a Perioperative Nurse

Perioperative nurses are members of surgical teams. They provide highly specialized care that has a direct impact on the lives of their patients.

The demand for perioperative nurses continues to expand, in response to nursing shortages and the increasing need for surgical services. These registered nurses (RNs), also known as surgical nurses or operating room nurses, can expect promising employment prospects and competitive salaries.

Check out answers to your questions about how to become a perioperative nurse and what it’s like to work in this challenging career.

Perioperative nurses work together with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other members of the surgical team throughout all phases of surgical care. They prepare patients for operations, work with surgeons during procedures, and monitor patients in recovery.

Before surgery, these RNs get their patients ready for surgery, handle paperwork, administer medicines, and set up medical equipment. They communicate with patients and their families about the procedure by answering questions and calming any fears. During surgery, they work with the doctor and healthcare team, check patient vital signs, and monitor compliance with safety and sanitary procedures.

Following the surgical procedure, these nurses provide postoperative care, checking for signs of complications and tending to wound care and pain management. They also get together discharge plans and educate patients and families about what to expect during recovery.

Perioperative nurses can work in any medical facility that offers surgical services. They find positions in hospitals, outpatient clinics, ambulatory care centers, and physicians’ offices where surgical procedures are performed.

If you are interested in becoming a perioperative nurse, you must complete a two-year or four-year nursing degree, pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), and get clinical experience. Because each state sets its own specific licensing regulations, make sure to check with the board of nursing in the state where you intend to practice.

Employers may require you to get certification in basic life support and advanced cardiac life support. RNs working in this field can boost their career and salary prospects by pursuing specialty credentials as certified perioperative nurses, clinical nurse specialists (perioperative), and certified surgical services managers.

Earning an ADN and passing the NCLEX-RN exam offers the fastest route to a career in perioperative nursing. However, major professional nursing associations and many employers recommend that all practicing RNs earn at least a BSN degree.

Perioperative nurses who pursue nursing specialty board certifications and graduate training in advanced practice can increase their marketability and earning prospects.

Perioperative nurses, like all RNs, must pass the NCLEX-RN and get a license through their state board of nursing. While each state establishes its own RN practice regulations, RNs usually need to renew their license every two years. They must demonstrate that they have kept up with advances in the field by taking continuing education courses for nurses and completing the specified number of practice hours.

While not required by all employers, perioperative nurses often pursue specialty board

certifications to demonstrate higher competency levels and set themselves apart from other job applicants.

The CCI administers several perioperative certification options. The popular CNOR credential requires candidates to hold an unrestricted RN license and current work experience in perioperative nursing, nursing education, administration, or research. It also requires a minimum of 2,400 hours of perioperative experience, with at least 1,200 hours in an intraoperative setting.

Advanced practice registered nurses with a master of science in nursing or doctoral nursing degree may qualify for the Clinical Nurse Specialist Perioperative Certification. The Certified Surgical Services Manager credential is the only certification for perioperative managers, directors, and nurses who oversee personnel, budgets, business departments, or service lines.

Working in hospitals and other healthcare facilities that provide surgical procedures can help RNs gain necessary skills in patient assessment and monitoring. They also learn safety and sterilization and recovery coordination.

This experience prepares them for the fast-past and challenging conditions working as perioperative nurses. Some hospitals offer nurse residency programs for recently-graduated RNs designed to strengthen their surgical care skills.

Responsibilities will differ depending on the work setting and assigned role. For example, scrub nurses work in hospital surgery units and emergency rooms, preparing and handing tools to surgeons during procedures. Circulating nurses help maintain sterile conditions and ensure that surgical teams follow safety protocols. Perioperative nurses who are RN first assistants work with physician supervision but perform many surgical procedures independently, from controlling bleeding to suturing incisions and wounds.

As healthcare facilities deal with physician and nursing shortages and increasing surgical volume, employment and salary prospects for perioperative nurses will continue to expand. Although theU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not provide state-specific data for RNs with perioperative specialties, their salaries reflect the average compensation for all RNs which range from $59,450 a year for those in the bottom 10% to $120,250 and over for the top 10%.

Perioperative nurses in advanced nursing roles with board certification can expect to earn much higher than the average annual RN salary of $82,750.

Perioperative nurses work in fast-paced, stressful surgical settings. They must develop a full range of fundamental RN skills from their nursing training and clinical practice as well as competency in surgical procedures.

They must also develop “soft skills” for nurses to help them deal with volatile and high-risk working conditions. These include performing under rapidly changing conditions, maintaining patient focus and attention to detail, and committing to teamwork.

You can enter the field in 24 months by earning an ADN degree and successfully passing the NCLEX-RN exam. If you have previously earned college credits, you may be able to complete an accelerated BSN or bridge program in two years.

The Association of periOperative Registered Nurse’scode of ethics for perioperative nurses establishes ethical standards for the profession. Perioperative nurses have an obligation to protect, support, and advocate for the moral and legal rights of patients. They must provide safe and professional patient care while also respecting the choices of their patients, including those decisions the nurse does not agree with.

Nurses who do not comply with the Nurse Practice Act in their state may have their licenses revoked or be held legally liable for negligence, malpractice, or breach of patient confidentiality.

According to Payscale in August 2022, perioperative nurses can earn much more than theaverage annual RN salary of $68,300. In August 2022,RNs with perioperative skills reported average yearly earnings of $76,800. Compensation varies considerably by education level, location, work settings, and experience. Perioperative nurses with 10 or more years of experience earn over $83,300 a year with the highest paid making over $115,000 or more.

Page last reviewed: August 4, 2022