Types of Medical Nurses

Surgeons rely on nurses to keep the operating room clean and tidy, provide them with surgical equipment during surgery, and monitor patients’ vital signs for symptoms of problems. These nurses, called perioperative nurses, fall into three categories: nurse practitioner, nurse practitioner and first aid RN. Although each person performs different tasks, they work together to make the surgeon’s job easier and ensure the safety of the patient.

All nurse practitioners require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nursing and a registered nurse license. Although there are no degree programs exclusively for surgical nurses, many universities offer elective courses in various aspects of the surgical process. Once nurses enter the field, they can pursue continuing education degrees in practical nursing. Hospitals often prefer nurses to have experience in emergency care or critical care before applying for surgical services. Many surgical nurses also pursue certification, which is issued by professional organizations such as the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board. 

Cleaning nurse 

A cleaning nurse inspects the operating room before surgery, making sure it is clean, tidy and ready for the patient. He also prepares surgical instruments, counts sponges, needles and other instruments before and after the hour. After “cleaning up”, he helps the other surgical team to wash their hands and put on the sterile gowns, gloves and masks they wear to protect themselves and the patient. During the operation, he gives the surgeons tools and other equipment, and usually waits for when he is ready for the next equipment and what he needs. After the operation, he removes the surgical equipment and helps prepare the patient for transport to the recovery room.

What does a perioperative assistant do? Surgeons rely on assistants such as nurse practitioners and surgical technicians to help them prepare for surgery, assess the patient, and ensure that the operating room is safe. Also called perioperative assistants, these medical professionals play an important role in the success of the surgical procedure by supporting the surgeon and ensuring patient safety. 

Types of Perioperative Assistants 

Most surgical teams include four levels of perioperative assistants: surgeons, delivery nurses, theater nurses, and RN first assistants. Surgical technologists usually have a certificate or associate’s degree, while registered nurses usually have a degree or bachelor of science in nursing and are licensed as registered nurses. Their work sometimes overlaps, but the operating room is organized by nurses and surgeons. and surgical equipment, in addition to preparing the patient, handing over equipment to the surgeons and transporting the patient to the recovery room. Distributed nurses oversee the operation and ensure that safety procedures are followed, while RN first assistants work alongside the surgeon and provide direct patient care. 

Preoperative work 

Before surgery, assistants clean, sterilize and inspect the operating room. and all tools and equipment necessary for the process. In addition, they count sponges, syringes and other items in order to compare them with the post-surgery count and prevent the contents of the patient’s body. They prepare the patient by cleaning and disinfecting the incision site and place him on the operating table. They also clean the hands of the surgeon and other surgeons and put on gowns, gowns, masks and other protective clothing. 

Surgical operations 

During the surgical procedure, the RN first assistant monitors the patient’s pulse, heart rate, breathing, and other vital signs. It helps the surgeon control bleeding and provides emergency care if a patient’s blood pressure drops, their heart stops or other problems occur. The delivery nurse oversees the procedure; the surgical technologist passes the equipment to the nurse practitioner, who in turn hands off the equipment to surgeons. The nurse must know the use of each instrument and must anticipate what the surgeon will need next.

After the surgery

Once the surgery is done, the work of the surgeon is normal. This is where the perioperative assistants come in, preparing the samples taken during surgery and sending or transporting them to the lab for testing. They examine the patient to make sure they are ready to move to the recovery area and also apply cloths and bandages to the incision and wound. In addition, they clean and disinfect the operating room and all the equipment and supplies, dispose of the consumables and medical waste, restore the operating room, so it is ready for the next procedure.

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