Surgical nursing

Further information on operating room/perioperative nursing: Perioperative nursing

A surgical nurse, also referred to as a theatre nurse or scrub nurse, specializes in perioperative care, providing care to patients before, during and after surgery. To become a theatre nurse, Registered Nurses or Enrolled Nurses complete extra training. Surgical nurses may assist in any type of surgery. Surgical nurses may work in hospitals or outpatient surgical centers.

There are many different phases during surgery where the surgical nurse is needed to support and assist the patient, surgeons, surgical technicians, anesthesiologists and other medical staff. Pre-operative, nurses help to prepare the patient and operating room for the surgery. During the surgery, they assist the anaesthetist and surgeons when they are needed. Post-operative nurses ensure that the patients are provided with suitable care and treatments following surgery.

In the UK and Australia, surgical patients (those who have undergone a minor or major surgical procedure) are attended to on different wards from medical patients. Nursing practice on surgical wards differs from that of medical wards.

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