Nurse practioner in operating room

jer_sd · Jun 30, 2007

Yes NPs can and do work in the operating room. Unfortunatly the required skill set is not found in most NP prorams. Often the NP will need OTJ training as a minmum.

One hospital I have privliges in requires NPs graduate from a RNFA program to have first assisting privliges, the other hospital allows all NPs that right with out seperate requirements.

There is even a NP residency in orthopedics that includes surgical training.

core0 · Jun 30, 2007

Do nurse practioners work in the operating room with the surgeons or only Physician assisstants do? I heard that physician assistants working with surgeons male atleast $200,000 or above. Is this true? Can Nurse Practioners perform the same function?

$200k would be rare for a PA. CV surgery pays the best and the average there is $104k and the 90th percentile is $138k. There are probably a few that make more than that but they work very hard for that money. Also there is a ACNP/RNFA program at UAB. http://main.uab.edu/sites/nursing/98239/

David Carpenter, PA-C

JLynnOR · Jun 30, 2007

I currently work in surgery, and am in FNP school. I've worked with several NP's who work for surgeons, assisting MD in OR and seeing patients in clinic, etc.

It's not as common for NPs to fill this role as PAs--if you've had work experience in a surgery setting it is more likely, since NP school often does not include a surgical rotation.

There is misinformation out there. MDs may not know all of the details about what NPs can/can't do. If you don't have an OR nursing background and want to work as a mid-level in surgery, I'd personally advise PA school (or, depending on surgical specialty you want to work in, getting OR experience prior to NP school). Then, know your own skills and sell them to your potential employers accordingly.

Refer to the PA vs NP differences forum for addt'l details, and know that NP surgical jobs (like PA surgical jobs) are not a gravy train. Especially CV surgery. There are often long hours per day/week, long procedures without pee or food breaks, lots of responsibility, and a lot of on-call time (no drinking, limited reliable plan-making depending on how much they work you on call). Ortho has many of those same traits and is equally or more physically demanding.

Whatever you do, be your own advocate within your educational prep, fill in your knowledge/employability gaps, and be assertive about your skills with potential employers!

Best of luck!

utexas08 · Jul 2, 2007

Just wondering if surgical NPs are generally FNP or ACNP trained? Also, what is the payscale like for a NP assisting in the operating room?

JLynnOR · Jul 3, 2007

I've seen both ACNP and FNP--mostly FNP. There are more FNP programs scattered across the nation, so that has some bearing on the prevalence of FNPs. I've heard (or read on this board?) that ACNP's don't necessarily have the Peds training in their programs--I'm not sure if this is true. The docs I've talked to, however, have wanted someone who can see kids too.

My experience with surgeons and NPs is that surgeons don't really have much experience with them--they're used to PA's. So, unless an NP has some background that allows them to negotiate for more $$, in my area they seem to make about what a PA does. A large Ortho group in my area starts their rookie PAs at a salary of $65,000-ish and the range extends up to $120,000.