What is a surgical nurse and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.,

Kim Raines

A surgical nurse specializes in assisting surgeons and medical professionals during procedures. They work in operating rooms and prepare patients, provide equipment and supplies, and monitor patients. They also assist with sterilizing equipment, administering medication, and monitoring vital signs. Surgical nurses work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals to ensure safe and effective surgeries. They play a critical role in ensuring that patients receive high-quality care during surgical procedures.

What general advice would you give to a surgical nurse?

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.

Associate Dean of the School of Nursing Professor of Nursing, Quinnipiac University

One of the suggestions for new graduates is the importance of self-care. We have long known of the demanding nature of the nursing practice. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the nursing role's critical importance and the unique contributions made by nursing professionals. As the healthcare environment is extremely complex and challenging, nurses must remember to advocate for themselves and prioritize self-care.

ScoreSurgical NurseUS Average

Salary

5.0

Avg. Salary $64,025

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

10.0

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%

Asian 8.90%

Black or African American 12.03%

Hispanic or Latino 8.77%

Unknown 4.24%

White 65.62%

Gender

female 88.82%

male 11.18%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.1

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

7.8

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a surgical nurse?

Pros

High demand and job security
Competitive salary and benefits
Opportunities for advancement and specialization
Variety of surgical specialties to work in
Opportunity to work in a team-oriented environment

Cons

Long hours and irregular schedules, including on-call shifts
Exposure to infectious diseases and hazardous materials
Limited autonomy due to working under the direction of a surgeon or physician
Potential for conflicts with coworkers or physicians
Limited interaction with patients outside of the surgical setting.

Key steps to become a surgical nurse

Explore surgical nurse education requirements

Most common surgical nurse degrees

Bachelor's

46.0 %

Associate

39.0 %

Master's

6.2 %

Start to develop specific surgical nurse skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	31.31%
BLS	15.31%
Acute Care	6.70%
Acls	4.65%
Rehabilitation	3.52%

Complete relevant surgical nurse training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New surgical nurses learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a surgical nurse based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real surgical nurse resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed surgical nurse usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed surgical nurse in most of states. 43 states require surgical nurses to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Alabama	Degree required	State exam required	Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Alaska	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Nurse, Licensed Practical
Arkansas	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
California	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Licensed Vocational Nurse
Colorado	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Licensed Practical Nurse

Gain additional surgical nurse certifications

Surgical nurse certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific surgical nurse certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for surgical nurses include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC).

More About Certifications

Research surgical nurse duties and responsibilities

Manage GI bleeds, asthmatics, bowel resections, fractures, patients with chest and feeding tubes.
Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
Maintain BLS, NRP, ACLS
Prepare patients for procedures, initiate and maintain intravenous therapy, and obtain 12-lead EKG.

Prepare your surgical nurse resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your surgical nurse resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a surgical nurse resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable surgical nurse resume templates

Build a professional surgical nurse resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your surgical nurse resume.