Perioperative Nurse – Career and Education Profile

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As a perioperative nurse, you’ll work closely with patients who need surgery, providing care before and after the procedures, as well as assist doctors during operations and other medical procedures.

Job Responsibilities

Your job responsibilities as a perioperative nurse will depend on your education level and the type of patients. Your job will change from day to day, as no two patients are the same. When someone needs an operation or other type of medical procedure, the perioperative nurse will prepare them for surgery and provide care afterward. Your tasks could include educating the patients, performing assessments before the surgery, monitoring patients after the operation to ensure that there are no complications with the anesthesia, and developing a pain management plan for patients following an operation. You could also work as a scrub nurse, circulating nurse, or RN first assistant in the operating room, helping doctors and other nurses keep the patient as safe and comfortable as possible.

Salary and Career Options

According to a study in 2007, perioperative nurses make an average of $60,400 annually. You’ll make more money if you work in a larger facility with dozens of operating rooms and more patients to manage. Many perioperative nurses also consider other roles in the operating room, such as becoming a critical care nurse or nurse anesthetist.

Educational Requirements

Although you can start working as a nurse with just an LPN certification, most operating rooms require more education, so employers generally require nurses to have RN certification, which requires an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree. You can also go on to get your master’s degree or every doctorate in this field, and the more education you receive, the more you can specialize. Your classes will cover general nursing tasks, as well as teach you skills relating to perioperative patient care.

LPN to RN College Programs

With some additional schooling, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can become a registered nurse (RN), opening doors to more job opportunities and higher salaries. The following is a list of schools with the best online LPN to RN degree programs offered by accredited colleges. You can request information by clicking the college's logo.

LPN to RN (BSN)	Indiana State University—ISU’s LPN to BSN degree program is the only online LPN to RN training program in the United States. LPNs and LVNs who complete this program can earn their NLNAC-approved Bachelor of Science degree in nursing entirely online. Upon completion, graduates should meet all of the prerequisites for becoming an RN. Read an in-depth review of Indiana State University.
LPN to RN LPN to ADN LPN to BSN	The College Network—Earn your LPN to RN (ADN) degree completely online with no campus attendance and no wait list. Learn from the convenience of home at your own pace, and earn an NLNAC-accredited associate’s degree in less time and for less money than traditional campus programs. Read an in-depth review of The College Network.
	Select a subject and degree level, then click "Find My Degree" to browse 100+ online nursing schools offering relevant accredited programs.
BS in Nursing RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Education MSN in Nurse Informatics MSN in Nurse Management	Walden University—Founded in 1970, Walden University is dedicated to providing education for a higher purpose. The Nursing School confers degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s level, which provides further study in health informatics, nursing education, and nursing leadership/management. Walden is one of the biggest providers of online master and doctorate programs with over a hundred degrees offered at each level.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing (MSN) MSN in Adult Health RN to MSN in Nurse Education Accelerated RN to MSN	South University—South University’s College of Nursing offers numerous degree programs for aspiring nurses. Those looking for a BSN degree can enter into the RN to BSN and complete it within 18 months. South also offers the following master’s degree-level programs: MS in Nursing (MSN), MSN in adult health nurse practitioning, MSN in nurse education, and an accelerated RN to MSN.
RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Administration MSN in Nurse Education	Kaplan University—Kaplan University’s RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs feature curriculums that provide registered nurses with the tools to graduate with BSN and MSN degrees. The MSNs in Nurse Administration or Nurse Education feature curriculums that teach methods in management and education in order to prepare students for leadership and educator positions with in the nursing field.