How do I Become a Circulating Nurse?

A surgical team’s circulating nurses are critical members. They’re in charge of setting up operating rooms and keeping an eye on patients during procedures, alerting doctors if anything goes wrong. A person who wants to become a circulating nurse usually needs to gain several years of experience in other nursing positions to prepare for the responsibilities of the position, as it requires extensive knowledge of patient care procedures. To work as a circulating nurse, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, a passing score on the registered nurse licensing exam, and practical experience in an emergency room or critical care unit.

A four-year nursing program at an accredited university can help someone who wants to become a circulating nurse develop technical and personal skills. Although some hospitals and community colleges offer two-year programs to train new nurses, the majority of future circulating nurses opt for bachelor’s degrees to improve their resumes and knowledge of the job. Medical technology, patient care procedures, math, anatomy, and biology are typical undergraduate courses. Many schools also offer specialized surgical nursing classes for students interested in perioperative and circulating nurse careers.

While pursuing their degrees, nursing students frequently have the opportunity to work as interns at local hospitals. A person who wants to work as a circulating nurse can usually spend the majority of their internship observing procedures and learning about the role of perioperative professionals in surgical settings. He or she can take a national licensing exam to become a registered nurse after graduation. Because new nurses are in such high demand in most areas, entry-level positions for recent graduates are common.

Emergency rooms, ambulatory care units, and general hospitals are where most new nurses start their careers. A person interested in becoming a circulating nurse will be exposed to a wide range of patients and conditions while learning about emergency medical and surgical procedures. By speaking with practicing nurses and hospital administrators, he or she can learn about perioperative opportunities. Before joining a surgical team, a nurse must complete continuing education courses and a certain number of hours of general nursing experience in many areas.

When a person is ready to start attending surgeries, experienced nurses can walk them through the process. For several months, a new circulating nurse works under supervision, gradually gaining more responsibilities. An individual can take a voluntary certification exam to earn official circulating nurse credentials after working for about two years.