If you are currently a nurse or are considering a career in nursing and are drawn to fast-paced, high-impact care, perioperative nursing may be a path worth exploring. Often called operating room (OR) nursing, this specialty focuses on caring for patients before, during, and immediately after surgical procedures.
OR nurses play a critical role in patient safety, teamwork, and surgical success. This guide explores what perioperative nurses do, the steps to become an OR nurse, and how nursing education fits into the journey.
What is Perioperative Nursing?
Perioperative nursing is a specialty within registered nursing that supports patients throughout the surgical experience. The term perioperative refers to the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of care.
Perioperative nurses work in hospital operating rooms, outpatient and ambulatory surgery centers, and specialty surgical clinics. Their primary responsibility is to advocate for the patient and maintain safety during procedures that require anesthesia, sterile technique, and close coordination with the surgical team.
What Does an OR Nurse Do?
OR nurses combine clinical skill with coordination and attention to detail. While responsibilities vary by role and setting, common duties include:
- Preparing patients for surgery and verifying procedure details
- Maintaining sterile environments and safety protocols
- Monitoring patient status and responding to changes during procedures
- Communicating with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and surgical staff
- Supporting patients and families before and after surgery
Unlike many bedside nursing roles, OR nurses typically care for one patient at a time during procedures, allowing for focused, high-stakes care.
Types of OR Nurses
OR nurses work within perioperative nursing and may specialize in different roles depending on training and experience.
Circulating Nurse
The circulating nurse works outside the sterile area, managing the overall nursing staff in the operating room to ensure patient safety and comfort. This role includes documentation, safety checks, coordinating equipment, and acting as the patient’s advocate throughout the procedure.
Scrub Nurse
The scrub nurse works within the sterile field, setting up the operating room, handling surgical instruments and supplies, assisting the surgeon during the operation, and helping prepare the patient for transfer to the recovery room.
RN First Assistant (RNFA)
An RN First Assistant works directly with the surgeon, assisting with surgical tasks, such as monitoring vital signs, controlling bleeding, and suturing. This role requires additional education and experience beyond entry-level OR nursing.
PACU (Recovery Room) Nurse
PACU nurses care for patients immediately after surgery, monitoring recovery from anesthesia, managing pain, and identifying early complications.
How to Become an OR Nurse
Step 1: Earn a Nursing Degree and Become an RN
To work as an OR nurse, you must first become a registered nurse (RN). This typically means earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and passing the NCLEX-RN licensing exam.
For students who already hold a bachelor’s degree in another field, an Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program offers a faster, focused pathway into nursing.
Step 2: Gain Perioperative Training
Most new nurses enter perioperative nursing through hospital-based perioperative nurse residency programs or structured specialty training programs after being hired into an OR setting. These programs teach sterile technique, surgical procedures, patient safety standards, and OR workflows.
Step 3: Consider Specialized Perioperative Education
Many healthcare systems use Periop 101, a standardized perioperative education program developed by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN). This curriculum combines coursework with hands-on clinical training.
Step 4: Build Experience and Pursue Certification
With experience, some OR nurses pursue professional certification, such as the CNOR (Certified Perioperative Nurse) credential. Certification is optional but can support career advancement and specialization.
Is Perioperative Nursing Right for You?
All nurses need strong critical thinking skills, energy, and stamina, but these qualities are especially important in the high-pressure environment of the operating room. Surgeons, fellow nurses, and most importantly patients rely on OR nurses for sound judgment, reliability, and compassionate care. Comfort with technology is also important, as many surgical procedures now involve advanced and computer-assisted equipment.
While perioperative nursing is a demanding specialty, many nurses find it deeply rewarding because of the impact they have during critical moments of care.
Salary and Career Outlook for OR Nurses
Salaries for OR nurses vary by region, facility type, and experience. Because perioperative nurses are registered nurses, they typically earn pay comparable to or higher than many RN roles, particularly with call shifts or specialty experience. Demand for registered nurses continues to grow, and perioperative nursing remains a stable, in-demand specialty across hospital and surgical settings.
Start Your Path to OR Nursing at Roseman University
Every perioperative nurse begins with a strong nursing education. Roseman University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program is designed for students who have a minimum of 49 semester credits and want a focused, efficient route into the nursing profession.
The ABSN program emphasizes hands-on clinical preparation, a supportive, student-centered learning model, and readiness for the NCLEX-RN and entry-level nursing roles. With a high first-time pass rate on the Next Gen NCLEX and Roseman’s Six-Point Mastery Learning Model, graduates are prepared to pursue a wide range of nursing careers, including perioperative and operating room nursing.
Roseman’s ABSN program is available in hybrid-online and on-campus formats. With campuses in Henderson, Nevada, and South Jordan, Utah, and multiple start dates each year, Roseman’s ABSN program allows students to earn their BSN in less than 18 months.
Explore Roseman University’s ABSN program or connect with an advisor for more information.
For more information about becoming a perioperative nurse, visit http://www.aorn.org/.