[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Perioperative nurses work with surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurse practitioners to care for patients before, during, and after surgical procedures. Our guide answers questions about perioperative nursing careers, such as, “how do I become a perioperative nurse,” or “how much does a perioperative nurse make?”[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]In this guide, we explore training and education requirements, resources, and responsibilities of perioperative nurses, along with beneficial skills and salary expectations. This information can help candidates decide if this career suits their goals, and if so, how to prepare for the profession.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Is a Perioperative Nurse?[/hen-ui-heading]Prospective professionals in nursing may wonder what perioperative nurses are and what they do. These nurses assist with surgical care, including preparation and patient recovery, to ensure that operations run safely and efficiently by tending to sanitation concerns, assessing patient needs, communicating with staff for patient care, and helping surgeons during procedures. Overall, perioperative nurses bring a sense of comfort, stability, and organization to the chaotic world of surgery.Since each perioperative nurse must hold a registered nurse (RN) license, this position does not qualify as entry-level.[hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Where Do Perioperative Nurses Work?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aorn.org/career-center/career-resources/career-advice/surgical-nurse-career” target=”_blank”]Work environments for perioperative nurses[/hen-ui-link] can include any medical facility where surgeries occur. Options involve hospitals, out-patient centers, ambulatory surgery centers, and doctor’s offices that provide surgical care. These nurses can work with several departments within these organizations. For example, some patients may undergo emergency surgery and be admitted into the ICU. A perioperative nurse, in this situation, may communicate with ICU workers regarding post-surgery treatment and expectations.Candidates can also work in settings that [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.nursesource.org/perioperative.html” target=”_blank”]embrace a specialization[/hen-ui-link]. For example, perioperative nurses may focus on dental, pediatric, or cardiac surgery. These focuses would require communicating with staff who work within that specialization. [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”Skills That Could Affect Perioperative Nurse Salaries”] Perioperative nurses should be level-headed individuals who can work well in chaotic situations. Candidates should possess physical, mental, and emotional strength to lift heavy items and continue working in high-stress situations.Individuals should excel at observation and time management to determine when problems arise in operating rooms. Communication skills relate to this quality since alerting other staff of problems or quickly understanding emergency commands can save patients’ lives.These nurses should understand medical terminology and practices to perform their responsibilities efficiently. Organizational skills help nurses keep track of patient needs and plans, while compassion and empathy help these professionals maintain a comforting and positive bedside manner. [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Become a Perioperative Nurse[/hen-ui-heading]Following the path to becoming a perioperative nurse requires significant work and commitment to education, fieldwork, and exam components. However, nurses who complete these steps can work in active and engaging operating rooms to ensure patients’ safety. These nurses can bring comfort and guidance that assist patients throughout the surgery process by helping them cope with, understand, and recover from medical treatments. Candidates who want to make a difference in people’s lives should consider these careers if they excel under pressure and thrive when multitasking. Learn more on how to [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/perioperative-nurse/how-to-become/”]become a perioperative nurse[/hen-ui-link].[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Perioperative Nurse Salaries and Job Growth[/hen-ui-heading]According to PayScale, the national average for [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)%2C_Operating_Room/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]perioperative nurse salaries[/hen-ui-link] is $70,559. However, several cities boast much higher expectations for these nurses, with Los Angeles holding the highest average at $97,148.Average salaries vary by experience. Entry-level candidates average less than $60,000, while perioperative nurses in their late careers average just under $80,000. Other factors, like the specific industry, can affect salary expectations, as well. Specifically, pharmaceutical manufacturing makes up the highest-paying industry for RNs.When compared to the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/AWI.html” target=”_blank”]2018 average U.S. income[/hen-ui-link] for all professions ($52,145), all of the noted salaries indicate that this career is financially lucrative, especially since related careers often include lower average pay than perioperative nurse positions.Career opportunities also vary based on location and industry. For instance, general medical and surgical hospitals offer the highest employment level for RNs. Likewise, South Dakota delivers the highest concentration of these positions among states.[hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]Highest Salary Locations for Perioperative Nurses[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]National Median[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”National Median”]$70,559[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Los Angeles, California[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”National Median”]$97,148[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]New York, New York[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”National Median”]$81,094[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Houston, Texas[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”National Median”]$69,329[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Dallas, Texas[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”National Median”]$70,000[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Chicago, [hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/illinois/”]Illinois[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”National Median”]$70,330[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ style=”text-align: right;”]Source: [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)%2C_Operating_Room/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]PayScale[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Median [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/perioperative-nurse/”]Salary for Perioperative Nurses[/hen-ui-link] by Career Experience[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ style=”text-align: right;”]Source: [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)%2C_Operating_Room/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]PayScale[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]Related Job Salaries[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Registered Nurse[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Certified Nurse Assistant[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”][hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/lpn-lvn/”]Licensed Practical Nurse[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Registered Nurse, Emergency Room[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Registered Nurse, Critical Care[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Registered Nurse”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]$63,393 yearly[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Certified Nurse Assistant”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Certified_Nurse_Assistant_(CNA)/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]$27,891 yearly[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Licensed Practical Nurse”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Licensed_Practical_Nurse_(LPN)/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]$43,528 yearly[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Registered Nurse, Emergency Room”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)%2C_Emergency_Room/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]$66,391 yearly[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Registered Nurse, Critical Care”][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)%2C_Critical_Care/Hourly_Rate” target=”_blank”]$72,656 yearly[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ style=”text-align: right;”]Source: PayScale[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Perioperative Nurse Resources[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aorn.org”]Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses[/hen-ui-link] AORN participates in events like the Global Surgical Conference and Expo, the Leadership Summit, and the OR Excellence Conference. Candidates can also attend workshops and view webinars that explore relevant topics. The group publishes the AORN Journal and offers [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aorn.org/education/individuals/continuing-education” target=”_blank”]continuing education opportunities[/hen-ui-link], like virtual courses.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aacn.org/”]American Association of Critical-Care Nurses[/hen-ui-link] AACN delivers the National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition, along with the AACN Critical Care Webinar Series. The group also offers resources for topics in ethics, neurology, staffing, and pediatric care, in addition to providing [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aacn.org/nursing-excellence/grants” target=”_blank”]funding for research experiences[/hen-ui-link]. The site’s Career Center maintains a job bank for field positions.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.cc-institute.org/home”]Competency and Credentialing Institute[/hen-ui-link] CCI awards nursing credentials for perioperative nurses, surgical services managers, and perioperative clinical nurse specialists. The group also plans to provide a credential for ambulatory surgery nurses. Members can view webinars on certification through the website and participate in [hen-ui-link href=”https://account.cc-institute.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?WebCode=COEMerchSubcategory&g10_key=963759fc-0959-4223-9eeb-df38ff8acc58″ target=”_blank”]free learning opportunities[/hen-ui-link], which include continuing education options.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.nurse.com/jobs/browse/med-surg/”]Nurse.com Job Search[/hen-ui-link] This resource lists open field positions that site viewers can explore by employer, location, or job type. Candidates can sign up for email alerts about new jobs as they become available. The website also connects individuals to continuing education options, [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.nurse.com/nursing-ce-courses” target=”_blank”]including free classes[/hen-ui-link], in areas like advanced practice nursing, bioethics, and care coordination.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″][hen-ui-link href=”https://community.ana.org/home”]American Nurses Association[/hen-ui-link] The ANA Career Center lists open field positions. The group also offers opportunities for networking among nursing professionals. These opportunities include communities, blogs, and panels on issues like ethics, policy, and nurse abuse. Many of these features can only be viewed or used by ANA members.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-article-layout category=”articles-and-news” limit=”3″ title=”Popular Resources”][/hen-ui-article-layout]