What does a perioperative nurse do?
Perioperative nurse responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real perioperative nurse resumes:
- Organize and manage regular clinics involving external physicians, including ophthalmology, ENT, Med/Surg, orthopedics, and podiatry professionals.
- Prepare patients for surgical procedures, according to specific physician orders, anesthesia orders and facility policy.
- Provide PACU care, monitoring airway, vitals and pain levels.
- Transport patient to PACU safely, and provide report to the nurse receiving care of the patient.
- Direct ordering and inventory of pharmaceuticals, as well as ENT, GI, and pain management supplies.
- Require ACLS certification and good customer-service and post-surgical assessment skills.
- Maintain effective communication with patients and families as well as physicians and other medical personnel.
- Perform and participate in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Serve in rehabilitation and Medical/Surgical units
Perioperative nurse skills and personality traits
We calculated that 35% of Perioperative Nurses are proficient in Patients, BLS, and PACU. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Compassion, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Perioperative Nurses that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 35%
Prepared patients for surgery/procedures by reviewing identification, consent, surgical procedure and starting IVs.
- BLS, 7%
Maintain appropriate certifications vital to job performance (BLS, ACLS, Malignant Hyperthermia response team).
- PACU, 5%
Core responsibilities: Post-operative recovery in main hospital PACU.
- Acute Care, 4%
Received many compliments from hospital nursing managers on ability to adapt almost immediately to any acute care unit that was scheduled.
- Acls, 4%
Required ACLS certification and good customer-service and post-surgical assessment skills.
- Plastic Surgery, 3%
Scrubbed for all specialties: Orthopedics, Plastic Surgery, Urology, Gynecology, Vascular and Otolaryngology.
"patients," "bls," and "pacu" are among the most common skills that perioperative nurses use at work. You can find even more perioperative nurse responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a perioperative nurse to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what perioperative nurses do because "registered nurses must be able to communicate effectively with patients in order to understand their concerns and evaluate their health conditions." Additionally, a perioperative nurse resume shows how perioperative nurses use communication skills: "maintained effective communication with patients and families as well as physicians and other medical personnel. "
Compassion. Many perioperative nurse duties rely on compassion. "registered nurses should be caring and empathetic when working with patients.," so a perioperative nurse will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways perioperative nurse responsibilities rely on compassion: "serve with compassion and empathy.duties screen patients ranging from pediatric to geriatric by preparing pre-admission and preoperative planning. "
Detail oriented. perioperative nurses are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to perioperative nurse responsibilities, because "registered nurses must be precise because they must ensure that patients get the correct treatments and medicines at the right time." A perioperative nurse resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "detailed documentation of surgical procedures. "
Emotional stability. A big part of what perioperative nurses do relies on "emotional stability." You can see how essential it is to perioperative nurse responsibilities because "registered nurses need emotional resilience and the ability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stressors." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical perioperative nurse tasks: "provide comprehensive nursing care based on patients physical and emotional condition and the patients plan of care. "
Organizational skills. Another common skill required for perioperative nurse responsibilities is "organizational skills." This skill comes up in the duties of perioperative nurses all the time, as "nurses often work with multiple patients who have a variety of health needs." An excerpt from a real perioperative nurse resume shows how this skill is central to what a perioperative nurse does: "perform all clinical duties in accordance national patient safety goals as outlined in organizational policies and procedures. "
Physical stamina. While "physical stamina" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to perioperative nurse responsibilities. Much of what a perioperative nurse does relies on this skill, seeing as "nurses should be comfortable performing physical tasks, such as lifting patients." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of perioperative nurses: "provided direct patient care to patients to meet their physical and psychological needs. "
The three companies that hire the most perioperative nurses are:
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center7 perioperative nurses jobs
- Atlantic Health5 perioperative nurses jobs
- The University of Kansas5 perioperative nurses jobs
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Compare different perioperative nurses
Perioperative nurse vs. Icu staff nurse staff
A triage register nurse works at a hospital's emergency room where they are in charge of providing immediate care and assistance to patients who are usually in life-threatening conditions. Part of their job is to assess the patients' needs and symptoms, regularly check on the patients who are in the waiting areas, assist patients towards corresponding facilities, and sort priority groups according to guidelines. There are also instances when a triage nurse must initiate urgent treatment or receive calls, maintaining an active communication line with fellow nurses and staff for an efficient workflow.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between perioperative nurses and icu staff nurse staff. For instance, perioperative nurse responsibilities require skills such as "acute care," "plastic surgery," "care plan," and "quality patient care." Whereas a icu staff nurse staff is skilled in "life support," "good interpersonal," "family education," and "cpr." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Icu staff nurse staff tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $68,704. In contrast, perioperative nurses make the biggest average salary, $83,895, in the professional industry.icu staff nurse staff tend to reach similar levels of education than perioperative nurses. In fact, icu staff nurse staff are 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Perioperative nurse vs. Triage register nurse
Nurses are medical professionals assigned to a specific department in the hospital and provide their trusted department services. Nurses are in charge of taking patients' medical histories, getting vital signs, preparing patients for checkups or procedures, explaining upcoming practices, answering any questions, and communicating any concerns to the assigned doctor. Nurses should ensure that patients follow the medical advice given to them. They also assist patients in completing administrative requirements, such as filling out forms, validating details, and endorsing payments.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that perioperative nurse responsibilities requires skills like "bls," "pacu," "acute care," and "plastic surgery." But a triage register nurse might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "home health," "triage rn," "telephone triage," and "primary care."
Triage register nurses may earn a lower salary than perioperative nurses, but triage register nurses earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $69,032. On the other hand, perioperative nurses receive higher pay in the professional industry, where they earn an average salary of $83,895.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Triage register nurses tend to reach similar levels of education than perioperative nurses. In fact, they're 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for perioperative nurses in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Beverly Malone Ph.D.
President and CEO, National League for Nursing
Virtual learning may also benefit students in the area of telehealth. An increase in virtual learning will help students prepare to support their future patients through telehealth visits and help them be more comfortable during the virtual interview process and diagnosis. It may keep older adults at home or in nursing home care settings, rather than the frequently difficult transition to hospitals.
Virtual learning widens the pool for preceptors in remote locations across the nation and around the world. Without the limitations of geography, compatible matching of students and preceptors is more easily facilitated. Telehealth and mobile apps can also help close the gaps in care that have been documented throughout underserved communities.
Perioperative nurse vs. Nurse
A post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) registered nurse is primarily in charge of taking care of patients following a procedure or surgery as they recover from the effects of anesthesia. Their responsibilities revolve around observing a patient's vital signs and consciousness, identifying and monitoring the side-effects from the anesthetics, and keeping an eye on the patient's overall behavior. Furthermore, it is essential to assist patients and their families or guardian, responding to any inquiries and concerns and discussing post-surgery care procedures.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, perioperative nurses are more likely to have skills like "plastic surgery," "care plan," "quality patient care," and "urology." But a nurse is more likely to have skills like "home health," "cpr," "quality care," and "discharge planning."
Nurses make a very good living in the government industry with an average annual salary of $63,263. On the other hand, perioperative nurses are paid the highest salary in the professional industry, with average annual pay of $83,895.When it comes to education, nurses tend to earn similar degree levels compared to perioperative nurses. In fact, they're 1.1% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Perioperative nurse vs. Registered nurse in pacu
Types of perioperative nurse
Updated January 8, 2025
