---
title: Is a Surgical Nursing Career Right for You?
url: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/what-is-a-surgical-nurse/"
type: post
date_published: 2022-03-30
date_modified: 2025-12-05
schema:
  @type: Article
language: en-US
word_count: 685
reading_time: 4 min
canonical: "https://arizonacollege.edu/blog/what-is-a-surgical-nurse/"
featured_image: "https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/What-do-surgical-nurses-do.jpg"
categories:
  - Nursing Careers
---

# Is a Surgical Nursing Career Right for You?

There are many different career paths to choose from when pursuing a career in
nursing. One of the most exciting fields is surgical nursing. Surgical nurses
work closely with doctors in hospitals, surgery centers, and clinics to assist
in surgeries. Surgical nursing is an active and challenging field that presents
many personal and professional growth opportunities.  

The day in the life of a surgical nurse can look different depending on the type
of medical facility where you work. However, the primary ​responsibility of a
surgical nurse is to provide patient care, assist the operating room staff, and
document observations and procedures. 

## What Is A Surgical Nurse?

A surgical nurse not only assists with surgery, but they may also be assigned to
patients in preoperative, postoperative, and intensive care units. Here are
common ways a surgical nurse assists with patient care before, during, and after
surgery:  

1.  Provide emotional support to patients  
2.  Conduct a preoperative assessment 
3.  Complete a surgical checklist 
4.  Sterilize surgical instruments and help set up equipment for surgery 
5.  Assist the surgeon during surgery  
6.  Prevent a surgical site infection, injuries, and inadequate thermoregulation 
7.  Assist with wound closing like applying stitches or bandages  
8.  Follow up about patient progress in the recovery room 
9.  Work with the pre-op and PACU to ensure continuity of care for the surgical
    patient 

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## How do I become a surgical nurse?

Becoming a surgical nurse takes a lot of time, dedication, and passion. The
orientation alone for a novice nurse in the operating room (OR) is 26 weeks.
This field will often require you to work well under pressure, work quickly but
efficiently, and have thick skin. OR nurses work in one of the most high-stress
settings in the nursing field. This is also a physically demanding job. You may
be standing in uncomfortable positions during surgery for hours on end with
little opportunity to rest. 

The demands notwithstanding, if you’re the right fit, being a surgical nurse can
be a gratifying career path both professionally and emotionally. Surgical nurses
don’t necessarily have to work in a hospital. You can work as a surgical nurse
anywhere surgical procedures are performed. And not all surgeries are emergency
procedures for life-threatening conditions. Many surgeries are elective
procedures meant to improve the quality of life for patients.   

The most common working environments for surgical nurses are: 

1. Hospitals (surgical care units, operating rooms, recovery rooms) 
2. Day-surgery centers 
3. Ambulatory surgery centers 
4. Physicians’ offices 
5. Urgent care centers 
6. Outpatient clinics 

![What do surgical nurses do](https://arizonacollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/What-do-surgical-nurses-do.jpg)

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Surgical nurses are RNs and must have a bachelor’s degree or BSN. The preferred
education for a surgical nurse is a BSN. Additionally, if a hospital has the
ANCC Magnet Designation, a BSN is required for any new hires. Making the leap
from an RN to a surgical nurse requires additional education, certification, and
training.  

Surgical nursing is not only a rewarding field, but also a field in high demand.
Part of the
[growing demand for surgical nurses](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/surgical-technologists.htm)
can be credited to the number of surgical procedures done in the United States.
Every surgery requires an RN to be part of the surgical team. As a surgical
nurse, you are designated as the patient advocate. The RN to patient ratio in
the operating room is 1:1. 

If you thrive under a fast-paced environment, work well as part of a team, and
want to work with one patient at a time, surgical nursing may be for you. The
first step in this exciting career is earning your
[BSN degree](https://www.arizonacollege.edu/bachelor-of-science-nursing/). If
you are interested in nursing school, please reach out to one of our advisors
at: (855)706-8382, or you can fill out a form and
[request more information](https://arizonacollege.edu/request-more-information/)
.

 

Authored by Trisha A. Butler, MBA, BA, BSN, RN, CNOR, COI   

_Core Nursing Faculty _\| _BSN Curriculum Committee Chair _\| 
_Tranquility & Wellness Committee Chair_ 

[Arizona College of Nursing  ](https://www.arizonacollege.edu/)

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_Information in this blog post is accurate as of March 30, 2022._

**Categories:** Nursing Careers