Otorhinolaryngology nurses care for patients with injuries and illnesses of the ears, nose, or throat. Sometimes called ear, nose, and throat (ENT) nurses, otorhinolaryngology nurses treat anything from sinus infections and allergies to sleep apnea and cancer. Their patients may be any age, from neonate to geriatric, and many ENT nurses see a wide range of patient ages and diagnoses throughout their days. Some otorhinolaryngology nurses choose to specialize and will only see pediatric patients. Others may focus on specific medical issues, like allergies or hearing loss. Whatever the focus, otorhinolaryngology nursing is full of opportunity.
Where Do Otorhinolaryngology Nurses Work?
Because they see a wide array of patient types, otorhinolaryngology nurses can choose from several different medical settings:
Otorhinolaryngology/ENT practices
Hospitals
Community health centers
Allergy clinics
Assisted living facilities
Plastic surgery practices
Cancer centers
Long-term nursing care facilities
Specialty clinics
In private practice, allergy clinics, and community health centers, an ENT nurse may work in a medical office environment. They will see many patients throughout the day in private exam rooms.
In the hospital, otorhinolaryngology nurses may work with surgical or cancer patients. They may also see patients who come in with an infectious process, like a child with a severe ear infection. ENT nurses who work in hospitals also care for otorhinolaryngology patients before and after surgeries like tonsillectomy and ear tube placement. Other common ENT procedures include:
Nasal endoscopies
Thyroidectomies
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery
Septoplasty
Adenoidectomy
Rhinoplasty
Balloon sinuplasty
Myringotomy
Tracheostomy
What Does an Otorhinolaryngology Nurse Do?
Otorhinolaryngology nurses’ task list will depend largely on where they work. In a private practice or clinic, ENT nurses will take health histories, vital signs, minor assessments, and assist in procedures. In the hospital, nurses may be required to perform acute care on new wounds, monitor patients after surgery, and conduct plenty of education for the patients and families. Some common otorhinolaryngology nursing tasks may include:
Collection of blood and other bodily fluids for laboratory testing
Central line management (like ports and PICCs)
Coordination of care with other departments
Dressing changes
Emergency resuscitation
Head-to-toe assessment
IV insertion and maintenance
Medication administration
Patient and family education
Patient hygiene and comfort
Patient transportation
Tracheostomy management
Vital signs monitoring
Assist with X-ray and CT scan imaging
ENT physicians and nurse practitioners treat patients with any diagnosis involving the ears, nose, and neck/throat. As a result, otorhinolaryngology nurses may see a wide variety of diagnoses, including:
Sleep disorders
Ear/nose/throat cancers
Ear infections
Tinnitus
Vertigo
Ruptured eardrum
Eustachian tube dysfunction
Ménière’s disease
Hearing loss
Sinusitis
Allergies
Rhinitis
Deviated septum
Tonsillitis
Laryngitis
Swallowing issues
Vocal cord conditions
How Do I Become an Otorhinolaryngology Nurse?
To become an otorhinolaryngology nurse, the first step is to graduate from an accredited nursing program. Otorhinolaryngology nurses can graduate with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Both degrees earn the designation of registered nurse (RN), but some employers may prefer to hire nurses with a BSN.
After graduating with their degree, otorhinolaryngology nurses can apply for work as graduate nurses (GNs). New graduates can begin training under a nurse preceptor – an experienced nurse on the unit or in the office. As they train, they can study for their state licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN. After passing the NCLEX, GNs become RNs and can work independently after their facility’s orientation period.
Once otorhinolaryngology nurses have gained some experience, they can test for a specialty certification or pursue an advanced practice degree to practice as nurse practitioners (NPs). To earn the designation of nurse practitioner, nurses must earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), which typically takes two years if full-time hours can be devoted to study. However, the schedule is flexible, and nurses who wish to work full-time during their studies can take a slower pace.
At least three years of experience in otorhinolaryngology and/or head-neck nursing
How Much Does an Otorhinolaryngology Nurse Make Per Year?
In the United States, RNs make $81,220 per year on average as of 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Otorhinolaryngology nurses’ annual salary is comparable to any other RN in a comparable position. Salaries can change with location and experience, with a low-end average of $61,250 and a high-end of $129,400. Depending on the workplace type, employers may be able to offer higher or lower compensation:
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $90,600
Home Health Care Services: $82,920
Offices of Physicians: $79,810
Outpatient Care Centers: $97,200
Nursing Care Facilities: $77,190
Nurses may notice a higher salary offering on the West Coast, in New England states, and in Alaska, but the cost of living in these areas can also be high. The lowest paying states are in the Midwest and some southeastern states.
Otorhinolaryngology nurse practitioners can earn more than RNs, with average annual earnings of $121,610, according to BLS data from 2022. The BLS reports a low-end average of $87,340 and a high-end of $165,240. Salary can also change based on employment type:
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $129,330
Home Health Care Services: $148,960
Offices of Physicians: $121,880
Offices of Other Health Practitioners: $112,660
Outpatient Care Centers: $134,030
The location of employment can affect otorhinolaryngology nurse practitioners as well, with differences similar to RNs.
The top paying areas for otorhinolaryngology nurses and nurse practitioners include:
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
Napa, CA
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Yuba City, CA
Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA
Are Otorhinolaryngology Nurses in High Demand?
With such a vast collection of workplace choices, otorhinolaryngology nurses have a lot of opportunities for employment. Facial plastic surgery, for example, boasts rapid growth. According to The Aesthetic Society, the number of rhinoplasty procedures increased by 50% from 2020 to 2021. Ear tube placement may also be on the rise, according to one study that reported out of 73 million children, 6 million required ear tubes.
Nurses across all specialties are currently in high demand across the country. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that 24% of U.S. hospitals have reported critical staffing shortages, and at least eight states have had to call in help from the military for staffing. As a result, the job outlook for otorhinolaryngology nurses should stay positive for some years to come.
Additional Resources for Otorhinolaryngology Nurses
NursingEducation strives to provide information that is up-to-date and unbiased. By engaging professionals from multiple healthcare perspectives, we ensure our content contains accurate information that helps our readers.
We have combined decades of experience teaching, publishing research, and working with patients in all fields of medicine to create accurate and straightforward online education. Once written, each article undergoes a rigorous peer-review process to bring you the highest quality, most comprehensive content possible.
Our writers receive feedback from reviewers to clarify content, prevent misleading statements, and identify areas that would benefit from more information. Our subject matter experts and reviewers generally work full-time in their professions and work for NursingEducation part-time.
