Perioperative Nurse Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Perioperative Nurse

Best Schools to become a Perioperative Nurse in U.S. 2024

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

In-State Tuition:$56,212
Out-of-State Tuition:$56,212
Admission Rate:7%
Graduation Rate:96%
Total Enrollment:28,201

Delaware County Community College

Media, PA

In-State Tuition:$7,800
Out-of-State Tuition:$11,700
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:20%
Total Enrollment:7,992

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

In-State Tuition:$58,130
Out-of-State Tuition:$58,130
Admission Rate:7%
Graduation Rate:93%
Total Enrollment:13,710

Dewey University-Hato Rey

Hato Rey, PR

In-State Tuition:$6,480
Out-of-State Tuition:$6,480
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:67%
Total Enrollment:442

Samford University

Birmingham, AL

In-State Tuition:$35,750
Out-of-State Tuition:$35,750
Admission Rate:83%
Graduation Rate:78%
Total Enrollment:5,682

Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Guayama

Guayama, PR

In-State Tuition:$4,848
Out-of-State Tuition:$4,848
Admission Rate:47%
Graduation Rate:40%
Total Enrollment:1,605
Perioperative Nurse Job Description:
  • Provide advanced nursing care for patients with acute conditions such as heart attacks, respiratory distress syndrome, or shock.
  • May care for pre- and post-operative patients or perform advanced, invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Perioperative Nurse

Job Duties for Perioperative Nurses

  • Document data related to patients' care, including assessment results, interventions, medications, patient responses, or treatment changes.

  • Manage patients' pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions, monitoring patients' responses, and changing care plans accordingly.

  • Perform emergency medical procedures, such as basic cardiac life support (BLS), advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), and other condition-stabilizing interventions.

Technologies and Skills Used by Perioperative Nurses

Electronic mail software

  • IBM Lotus Notes
  • Microsoft Outlook

Medical software

  • GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
  • eClinicalWorks EHR software

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Basic Skills

  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • Looking for ways to help people
  • Understanding people's reactions

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Perioperative Nurse

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Perioperative Nurse

FAQs About Becoming a Perioperative Nurse