What class in nursing school do they teach you surgical procedures?

calidreamin · Apr 14, 2016

You should look in RNFA (Registered Nurse First Assistant) of course you will need about to years or OR or Circulating experience but an RNFA works under the supervision of a surgeon and helps with incisions and suturing amongst other stuff. Hope this helps!

PANYNP · Apr 15, 2016

Shoe covers over stilettos must have been quite the sight?!

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2016

Yeeeaaaa. Nurses don't suture people up. If you want to do that you'll have to go on to be a NP and work in the ER. Then you'll get to suture people. But you certainly won't be sewing people up in nursing school. As others have said, if you're lucky, you may get to stand and observe in an OR.

My friend is an RNFA in the OR, and she definitely sutures, closes incisions, etc.

Of course, she didn't learn any of that in nursing school.

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 15, 2016

My friend is an RNFA in the OR, and she definitely sutures, closes incisions, etc.

I work with some nurses who aren't RNFAs and surg techs who aren't CFAs who are permitted to suture small incisions. Must have attended a suturing course and require a physician competency sign off every 6 months.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Apr 15, 2016

I work with some nurses who aren't RNFAs and surg techs who aren't CFAs who are permitted to suture small incisions. Must have attended a suturing course and require a physician competency sign off every 6 months.

Cool. Though they probably aren't sewing people's faces back on after a face lift! :eek:

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 15, 2016

Cool. Though they probably aren't sewing people's faces back on after a face lift!

Good heavens no! Laparoscopic/thoracoscopic incisions, endoscopic vein harvest incisions- all layers. Skin layer of incisions less than 6 inches in length. We do have one who has been specially trained by the plastic surgeons who helps close abdominoplasty incisions and other large plastics procedure incisions.

smf0903 · Apr 16, 2016

Shoe covers over stilettos must have been quite the sight?!

Oh it was quite a sight for sure!! I seriously don't know how she got those covers stretched over those ginormous heels :nailbiting:

cayenne06, MSN, CNM · Apr 17, 2016

Finish your RN, go to work in the OR and then become a RNFA which is a first assist.

Or become a CNM :) Nothing as satisfying as a good perineal repair, I'm telling you. (except, perhaps, an intact perineum :) ). And I died and went to heaven the first time I scrubbed in as first assist on a section.

applesxoranges, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2016

In my state, RNs do not suture unless they go to school to become a first assist (usually after years of OR experience or continue on to become a NP). I know NPs suture all the time if they are in an ER.

We saw two surgical procedures, a member implant and a scope of the bladder. The member implant was a shock for the staff and we were only allowed into the room by invitation from the surgeon because implant procedures nursing students are not usually allowed in.

Although this is assuming you're in the US. I don't know about other countries.

cupcakeluver · Apr 17, 2016

In my program...we got one day in the OR. This was during 2nd semester and med surg 2. I got to see a foot amputation. It was very bloody. I had a nice doctor who I believe was trying to scare me. He kept asking me if I got sick easily. Lol. He let me get up close and personal. I survived it though!!!

Also, the nurses were rough in OR. I've heard it takes a certain personality to really excel in that area and that these nurses can sometimes be territorial. Anyways, I definitely had to have some tough skin to make it through that day. I'm sure that's not true of all OR nurses.......just my experience at that particular hospital.