Specialty Requirements
- Degree
- Associate's Degree in Nursing
- Some facilities may hire you under the condition that you will get your BSN within a designated amount of time.
- Certifications
Characteristics
- Prioritization
- Effective communicator/active listener
- Empathetic
- Critical Thinker
- Detailed-Oriented
A Day in the Life
- In acute care settings, most nurses work three, 12 hour shifts. In outpatient clinics, nurses may work Monday-Friday. In Sports Medicine settings, the hours are based on the teams schedule.
- Patient Population
- Any age depending on the facility; however, on the general orthopedic hospital unit, most patients are over the age of 18.
- Job Responsibilities
- Assessments (physical, mental, spiritual), pre-op instructions, post-op instructions (stabilization, traction, etc.), vital signs, medication administration, collaborating with interdisciplinary professionals, patient education, etc.
- Common Medication Classes
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Acetaminophen, Antidepressants, Anticonvulsants, Corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), Osteoporosis treatment, Muscle relaxants, Viscosupplementation, Opioid pain relievers (limited use)
- Common patient surgeries
- Total joint replacements (hip, knee, shoulders, etc.), sport surgeries (ACL, meniscus, rotator cuff, labrum, etc.), Spinal fusion (laminectomies, fusion, removal of spinal cord tumors, etc.), traumas with with open reduction and internal fixation (pelvis, femur, and humerus fractures, etc.)
- Clinical Skills
- IV insertions, foley catheters, observe signs for compartment syndrome, emphasize cast care instructions, blood product transfusions, lab draws, wound care, etc.
Knowledge Expansion