Such opportunities include case management, perioperative research and education, advanced practice nursing, ambulatory surgical nursing, and nursing in surgical office practices. These assemblies emphasize clinical concentration in areas such as pediatrics, ambulatory surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and even nursing informatics. Seifert has both certifications and has participated as a first assistant in about 3,000 operations during her career in perioperative nursing, which spans 23 years. She views the first assistant role as one that gives a perioperative nurse special insight into the flow and mechanics of the surgical process. As the first assistant, who can also be another physician or a physician's assistant, Seifert has the unique vantage point of identifying which materials and technology are required to make the surgery efficient and successful, which processes can be particularly helpful in educating other nurses who may never have been in an OR, and where the focus for improved patient care might be.
Most surgery is done on an ambulatory basis, and inpatient hospital stays are short.
However, according to Seifert, surgery remains a major life event, and nurses must address the needs of the patient. How to Get Started Join the AORN, which has 350 chapters and 43,000 members with which to network. Attend educational meetings related to perioperative nursing. Talk with the perioperative nurses in your hospital. Find out why they like their work.