Nursing in NBA or other Pro Sports

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Most teams utilize certified athletic trainers and sports medicine orthopedic surgeons. Most nurses are not trained in first aid, wrapping and splinting of injured joints, PT and other skills necessary for acute or chronic sports injuries. Usually if medication is needed court or field side the MD administers or EMS is called (such as for a head or spine injury or fracture). Usually EMS is on standby on site for games. ATs are specially trained in sports medicine. I know some teams use PAs affiliated with the ortho group. I cannot see what a traditionally trained RN would have to offer that an AT and orthopedist couldn't handle

(It's a coveted assignment for volunteer EMS to do standby for pro or semi-pro sports events. Even HS or collegiate sports. I loved it when I did EMS. My cousins was court/risk/field side for many events when he did EMS as a volunteer in East Rutherford at the Meadowlands years ago. Oh the stories he has between concerts, sports and the fans at the events...the fan/spectator stories most interesting. )

[happyinmyheart]

Typically Athletic Training has replaced the role of Nursing in sports I believe.

[BlueDevil, DNP]

I highly doubt there are RN positions in the NBA. You would be lucky to get a job at the YMCA basketball camp, lol. If you become a APN and specialize in orthopedics and sports medicine, you might have a shot but would probably have to spend several years building up a resume. My son plays a D1 collegiate sport, and they have a PA, athletic trainer and ex phys.

[annie.rn]

The closest you might get is working orthopedics/sports medicine in a city that has a pro basketball team. The city I live in has a very famous B-Ball team. I know a nurse who works on an ortho/sports medicine unit at a large hospital downtown and from what she told me, a lot of the Dr.'s that treat the pro basketball players send them almost exclusively to this unit.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Had a friend who was an NP for the Indiana Pacers years ago. She was replaced by the training staff and an orthopedic surgeon.

[Dranger]

Highly doubt it.

I worked for an NFL team 2 years ago and there were plenty of trainers and a few PT guys. The med side was governed by an ortho MD and his PAs.

For the mid-level side PAs dominate ortho numbers wise when compared to NPs

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

I don't think there is a market for this type of position. I know the sports teams around here have a team MD and then a bunch of trainers and PTs.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Oh and to answer your last question I don't believe there are nursing jobs in the NBA. Currently only an AT internship for a 3 year experienced BS in AT or sports medicine and currently certified as an AT is listed.

I have a colleague whose daughter works for the NBA. She secured her longtime job as a sports analyst after a post college internship.

[amoLucia]

I'd like a job like Ali Gorman, RN, reporter for Philadelphia Channel 6 News. Probably more of a chance to do that than doing sports team nursing as other PPs commented.

[mhy12784]

Im sure theres plenty of athletes that hire nurses to give them their steroid injections.

While im kidding (but im also sure there are plenty) I think the closest thing would be something like being an OR Nurse for James Andrews (probably the most famous sports surgeon) or one of the other very famous sports surgeons.

[AriMer24]

Thanks! I am a high school student and I was just curious.

[Kortmarie]

Actually, RN's can get jobs at sporting facilities. Usually not for the actual team, but for the venue. It's pretty much first aid, but if that's the atmosphere you would enjoy, look into it! They are usually hired through affiliated hospital systems and not the team directly.

Just a side note: these are usually PRN positions.