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Surgical nurse practitioner skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Kathleen Sellers Ph.D.,

Amy Grugan Ph.D.

Surgical nurse practitioner example skills

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical surgical nurse practitioner skills. We ranked the top skills for surgical nurse practitioners based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 33.4% of surgical nurse practitioner resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a surgical nurse practitioner needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 surgical nurse practitioner skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use patients:

Educate the patients on their treatment plans including any necessary or recommended disciplines within the multidisciplinary team.
Assisted collaborating physician in treating and managing post-operative surgical oncology patients receiving chemotherapeutic agents as outpatients.

2. Patient Care

Patient care entails the diagnosis, recovery, and control of sickness as well as the maintenance of physical and emotional well-being through the use of healthcare providers' services. Patient care is described as services provided to patients by health practitioners or non-professionals under guidance.

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use patient care:

Familiarize and effectively use computerized medical records and clinic computer systems to assist in managing patient care.
Communicated and coordinated patient care with patient, family, community health services and interdisciplinary team.

3. Acute Care

The branch of secondary healthcare which is responsible for giving short-term care to patients recovering from severe injuries or urgent medical problems is known as acute care. Acute care comprises multiple domains like; emergency care, urgent care, short-term stabilization, pre-hospital care, critical care, and trauma care.

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use acute care:

Provide comprehensive medical care in collaboration with medical interdisciplinary team, for various patient populations, ambulatory and acute care settings.
Conducted and documented complete medical examinations, periodic preventive medical evaluations, and evaluated children on an acute care basis.

4. Diagnosis

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use diagnosis:

Detailed assessment, diagnosis, plan development and implementation, and outcome evaluation to include medication prescription and referral where appropriate.
Initiated medical trials and monitored medical trials for patients with the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and other behavior disorders.

5. Diagnostic Studies

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use diagnostic studies:

Order pre-operative diagnostic studies as indicated, review results and recommend appropriate treatments and/or consults, as needed.
Performed physical examination, elicited and recorded complete health histories, reviewed diagnostic studies and prescribed medication according to protocols.

6. Patient Education

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use patient education:

Created evidence based patient education materials.
Developed and implemented patient education resources Preceptor/educator for NP students, Medical Students, and/or residents and fellows.

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7. Medical History

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use medical history:

NURSE PRACTITIONER To Medical history review, skin analysis/eval.
Function independently to perform evaluations of medical history and physical examinations for complex acute, critical, and chronically ill patients.

8. Diagnostic Tests

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use diagnostic tests:

Order and interpret appropriate laboratory and diagnostic tests to establish an appropriate treatment plan.
Ordered laboratory and diagnostic tests, recommended vaccinations and preventative health screenings, prescribed appropriate medications, and referred to specialists.

9. Laboratory Tests

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use laboratory tests:

Ordered and interpreted screening and laboratory tests, prescribed medications and developed treatment plans under guidance of a nurse practitioner
Performed evaluation and observations of patients, perform case histories, conduct physical examinations, order laboratory tests and prescribe medications.

10. Primary Care

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use primary care:

Delivered advanced primary care to the pediatric population from neonate to late teens, using diagnostic reasoning and evidenced-based treatment guidelines.
Managed addiction-related health issues and provided primary care services in the context of methadone detoxification and maintenance treatment programs.

11. Discharge Planning

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use discharge planning:

Round on inpatients and assist with discharge planning.
Perform full admission and discharge planning in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment extending to specialists from discharging facilities.

12. Medical Care

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use medical care:

Provided comprehensive primary medical care for a large panel of adult and/or geriatric patients in this entrepreneurial and innovative role.
Work collaboratively and independently with family practice physician delivering compassionate medical care to families, transgender and opiate dependent persons.

13. General Surgery

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use general surgery:

General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Vascular and Urology).
General Surgery, Fayetteville, NC

14. ICU

ICU means intensive care units. It also has a name known as the critical care unit or intensive therapy unit. The ICU handles patients experiencing acute diseases or severe injuries that need specialized treatment procedures by specific professionals.

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use icu:

Provided inpatient cardiac clearance consultations, ICU and emergency room consultations.
Developed advanced EEG continuous monitoring program for ICU bedside monitoring.

15. Pre-op

Here's how surgical nurse practitioners use pre-op:

Performed Pre-op and Post- op in-patient rounds with surgeons and assisted in procedures on both in-patients out-patients.

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What skills help Surgical Nurse Practitioners find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on surgical nurse practitioner resumes?

Kathleen Sellers Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Nursing, SUNY Polytechnic Institute

Skill sets that are particularly needed include systems thinking, finance proficiency, informatics, change management experience with the goal of enhanced clinical quality, and exquisite communication skills.

What surgical nurse practitioner skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Amy Grugan Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Assistant Director of Nursing, Bradley University

Presently, there is a nursing shortage, so finding employment as a nurse may not be an issue. While nursing graduates might not get hired into their "ideal" job, they should consider taking employment in an area that may not be of their first interest in order to gain experience. In turn, they will gain a greater appreciation for a new role.

What type of skills will young surgical nurse practitioners need?

Pam Fifer

College of Nursing, George Fox University

New graduates need to be flexible, adaptable, and resilient. Health care is constantly changing with new technologies, evidence, and innovations always on the horizon. Graduates also need strong clinical judgment and communication skills.

What technical skills for a surgical nurse practitioner stand out to employers?

Ivy Razmus Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, University of Detroit Mercy Aquinas

I think informatics and data management are essential in today's health care market. Administration of vaccines, documentation of interventions, and accurate medication administration. In some states, they don't have enough Registered Nurses so they are using LPNs to perform many duties such as medication administration, overseeing the care of direct caregivers. During this pandemic, we are using medically trained national guard members to administer the vaccines. They are often using paramedics and emergency medical technicians in the emergency departments.

What soft skills should all surgical nurse practitioners possess?

Regina Cardaci Ph.D.

Clinical Assistant Professor, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing

Critical thinking and creative problem solving
-Patience
-Empathy
-Communication
-Resilience.
-Attitude and confidence
-Teamwork

Do you want to know more?

List of surgical nurse practitioner skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a surgical nurse practitioner resume and required skills for a surgical nurse practitioner to have include:

Patients
Patient Care
Acute Care
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Studies
Patient Education
Medical History
Diagnostic Tests
Laboratory Tests
Primary Care

Discharge Planning
Medical Care
General Surgery
ICU
Pre-op
EMR
Outpatient Clinic
Acls
BLS
Comprehensive Care

Robotic Surgery
Physical Exams
Medical Management
GYN
Clinical Trials
Discharge Process
Pain Management
Suturing
Office Procedures
Lab Results

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Surgical Nurse Practitioner Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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