A bariatric nurse is a surgical nurse who specializes in the care of patients who are undergoing or have recently completed bariatric surgery. Obesity surgery is usually performed to encourage weight loss in those who are overweight. The procedures usually work by altering the stomach’s capacity to hold food or the way the digestive tract absorbs nutrients from food, either temporarily or permanently. A good bariatric nurse has several years of specialized training in the issues that bariatric patients face. Prior to surgery, they are usually able to meet the specific needs of a bariatric patient, and they will usually provide counseling and other post-operative services to help the patient adjust to a new way of life.
A typical bariatric nurse is responsible for assisting bariatric patients in hospital settings. These patients are frequently morbidly obese, necessitating the use of highly specialized medical equipment. Stretchers, gurneys, ambulances, and other medical equipment designed for healthy-weight patients may not be appropriate for bariatric patients. Because specialized equipment is sometimes scarce, these patients are at risk of developing obesity-related medical complications while waiting for treatment, especially in an emergency. One of the bariatric nurse’s main responsibilities is to keep patients alive while they wait for medical help.
Because patient needs can vary greatly from one to the next, surgical nurses typically require strong problem-solving skills. Because the average bariatric nurse will have several patients at a time and will need to direct a team of subordinate health care professionals, organizational, leadership, and planning skills are considered a must. A bariatric nurse, in addition to years of specialized training in bariatric surgery and medical care for bariatric patients, will typically require good people skills, not only for dealing with coworkers and subordinates, but also for assisting patients in understanding and accepting the risks of surgery and making the necessary post-operative lifestyle changes.
The bariatric nurse is usually in charge of educating a patient about healthy lifestyle and nutrition choices once he or she has recovered from bariatric surgery. The nurse will frequently be called upon to counsel patients on emotional and psychological issues related to obesity and weight loss, as well as to organize therapeutic support groups for them. Typically, bariatric nurses will keep track of their patients’ progress after surgery, ensuring that dietary and exercise guidelines are followed and that any potential complications are avoided.