by In the United States, there is a growing need for plenty of healthcare workers, including physicians.
The shortage of physicians can cause issues because the healthcare teams cannot address the high demand for healthcare workers.
Nurse practitioners are members of the healthcare team that assist in taking care of the patients.
Some states allow NPs to practice independently.
Also, many schools have different specializations for NP such as family medicine or acute care, but also more specific specialization and subspecialization programs, such as orthopedics and cardiology.
The job description of the orthopedic nurse includes a variety of duties.
They are in charge of patients who suffer from many musculoskeletal disorders and injures.
Orthopedic nurses evaluate patients in clinics and hospitals.
They order tests, make treatment plans, and assist with patient procedures.
The common job duties of orthopedic nurses are assistance in setting broken bones, perform the joint injection, place splints, and set casts.
The part of their job is to monitor the healing process after interventions and continue with the subsequent tests, adjust and plan follow-up care.
Orthopedic nurses work with other members of healthcare teams such as physical therapists, staff nurses, and nutritionists, to provide the best care.
There is a certificate for orthopedic nurses offered by The Orthopedic Nurses Certification Board (ONCB).
To get the orthopedic certificate for nurses, you will have to meet several requirements including having a master’s degree or higher.
Also, to get the certificate nurses must have at least three years of professional experience as an RN or ARPN and have a valid and updated RN or APRN license.
Nurses with a minimum of 2000 hours of APRN experience in the last three years in orthopedic or musculoskeletal specialty and those who have attended the orthopedic residency program on one of the accredited universities can get the license.
Does a Registered Nurse Allowed to Supervise Medical Assistant?