Plastic Surgery

I've seen posts about them, so I think they are out there.

Some in Indiana do! In fact, the ones I have seen here are more of an assistant than anything else. They are in charge of the office as well as being a private scrub during procedures.

The drawback is they don't stay long. The hours, responsibilities and pay don't match.

That's just for my area.

I'm soooo glad to see this post. I selected this particular part of the website to post a question regarding the same thing. I also would like to have more info regarding plastic surgeon's hiring OR nurses. I live in CO atm and I have to say that I'm shocked that the hospitals here are only paying $20/hr for nurses with BSN degrees. I'm ASSUMING (we know what happens when you do that), that a plastic surgeon's office would pay more for their nurses.

I suppose I could make a few phone calls to a few plastic surgery businesses and ask a few general questions. If I do, I'll post some info. In the meantime if anyone has further info, please share. Thanks.

I would think that if plastic surgeons were doing surgery in their office, especially with general anesthesia or sedation, states would mandate that an RN is required. I know that where I live in Texas, all of the docs (plastic) have RN's who work in their offices, and some of them scrub also, tho they don't take call after hours. The pay is based on experience, but usually lower than hospital pay.

nurses. I live in CO atm and I have to say that I'm shocked that the hospitals here are only paying $20/hr for nurses with BSN degrees. I'm ASSUMING (we know what happens when you do that), that a plastic surgeon's office would pay more for their nurses.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch on that one. A lot of offices will use LPNs to save money. Just check around and see what you can find out. Good luck.

Yes Plastic Surgeons higher RNs. I work for one in Florida. We have an ambulatory surgery center. There are 4 doctors in the office and each doctor has an RN assigned to him. We are responsible for the H&P's prior to surgery patient education, fielding patient calls, clinic flow, OR flow and many other things. In our office, we also circulate in the OR. We have 2 OR suites so 2 doctors have surgery each day. There are scrub techs that help them and we also have recovery room nurses. In the clinic, there are MA's that help with clinic pts as well.

The pay depends on the office you go to. I think many are finding that inorder to get a good RN, they need to be competative with the hospitals.

Hope this helps...by the way, I love it!!!! I worked in the ER for 10 yrs. It was a pleasant change.

Yes Plastic Surgeons higher RNs. I work for one in Florida. We have an ambulatory surgery center. There are 4 doctors in the office and each doctor has an RN assigned to him. We are responsible for the H&P's prior to surgery patient education, fielding patient calls, clinic flow, OR flow and many other things. In our office, we also circulate in the OR. We have 2 OR suites so 2 doctors have surgery each day. There are scrub techs that help them and we also have recovery room nurses. In the clinic, there are MA's that help with clinic pts as well.

The pay depends on the office you go to. I think many are finding that inorder to get a good RN, they need to be competative with the hospitals.

Hope this helps...by the way, I love it!!!! I worked in the ER for 10 yrs. It was a pleasant change.

AWESOME! Thanks for the response Jules. After graduation from Nursing school, I was going to go into the ER, but now I'm thinking of the OR so I can more easily work my way into a job at a plastic surgeon's office. If anything else, the environment and ambiance at a plastic surgeon's office appear to be nicer than at a typical hospital.

I work for a plastic surgeon....I am a LPN

My personal plastic/reconstructive surgeon had RN's working for him.

Unfortunately, he retired in Dec., so I won't even get the chance to work for him. :chuckle

Any type of surgeon that has a private practice, even if they don't do most precedures out of their office, can have their own nurse which could be an RN or LPN depending on what they want them to do. LPNs generally stay in the office and do work like any doctor's office. RNs may do the same and can also accompany to the OR, some become trained to assist with the actual surgery. Certain types of surgeons almost have to have their own RN. Transplant surgeons for example, because its all on call need a nurse to fly around with them, pick up the organ and return for the procedure. For plastics I don't see why it would be neccesary but some doctors just like having their own, I guess.

Hmmmmm...I'm sooo glad someone has brought up the topic of plastic surgery nursing. Plastic surgery nursing is a growing nursing specialty. As you all already know, people are living longer and healthier lives and want to look as good as they feel. Consequently, nursing in this field has become increasingly specialized. There is a national association of plastic surgery nurses and they encourage nurses with at least 2 years experience in plastic surgery to seek certification in this specialty. Plastic Surgeons in England have actually requested that nursing schools offer specialty training or a nursing degree specific to plastic/reconstructive surgery. One nursing school in England has already set the precedent and will be the first nursing school to offer a specialty in plastic surgery. Now, you may be wondering how I know so much about this topic. I am not a plastic surgery nurse, I'm a critical care nurse but I was a plastic surgery patient. My surgeon recommended that I hire a private duty nurse and in researching local agencies I found that agencies have a "one nurse fits all" approach.

I'm in the process of starting my own nursing agency that will be specific to plastic/reconstructive surgery. Plastic surgery patients expect compassion and respect from a nurse who will not judge them. I guess my question to you guys is this...do you believe there is a need for this type of specialty?