An orthopedic nurse cares for patients who have conditions related to the musculoskeletal system, including various types of disease processes and/or injuries.
What Does an Orthopedic Nurse Do?
Orthopedic nurses can be registered nurses (RNs) or nurse practitioners (NPs)—who may also be referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
The orthopedic nurse’s credentials and state practice laws determine the scope of practice permitted. The setting in which care is provided also influences an orthopedic nurse’s duties.
The basic duties of an orthopedic nurse may include:
Assessing and monitoring the patient’s status
Documenting the patient’s medical history and symptoms in the patient’s record
Creating and updating the patient’s plan of care
Collaborating with the patient
Administering medications and treatments
Performing various procedures
Operating and monitoring medical equipment
Teaching patients
According to the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON), orthopedic nurses use critical thinking skills to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care for patients with conditions that may include:
Adult spine disorders
Degenerative joint disease
Inflammatory disease
Metabolic bone disease
Musculoskeletal tumors
Orthopedic complications
Orthopedic trauma
Sports injuries
In addition to providing care for patients with these types of conditions within hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, and patients’ homes, orthopedic nurses also assist orthopedic surgeons in the operating room — which may be located in a hospital or ambulatory surgery setting.
Due to their training and credentials, orthopedic nurse practitioners are able to provide a more extensive scope of care for patients with orthopedic needs.
In a Q&A for Nurse Journal, orthopedic nurse practitioner Nancy Brook, FNP, provides various insights about being an orthopedic nurse practitioner.
“So much of our work is meeting the patients where they are emotionally, helping them to feel seen and heard, and helping to decrease their anxiety,” Brook explains.
The outlet says the duties of orthopedic nurse practitioners include:
Ordering and reading imaging studies
Placing splints and casts
Prescribing medication
Performing joint injections
Monitoring patients after surgery and through rehabilitation
“These tasks may require collaboration with orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, occupational therapists, physiatrists, nutritionists, and orthopedic nurses,” Nurse Journal says. “Orthopedic NPs work closely with patients who may have experienced a life-changing injury or with patients dealing with a lifelong chronic illness.”
How Much Does an Orthopedic Nurse Make Per Year?
According to salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for registered nurses was $81,220 in May 2022—with half of nurses earning more than that amount and half earning less. Wages of nurses in the lowest 10 percent averaged $61,250. Wages of nurses in the highest 10 percent averaged $129,400.
The BLS does not provide a pay breakdown according to specialty but does provide median annual wages for registered nurses according to general categories of work location. Since most orthopedic nurses care for patients in hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, ambulatory care settings, and patients’ homes, the following median annual salaries may apply:
General medical and surgical hospitals: $90,600
Home health care services: $82,920
Offices of physicians: $79,810
Outpatient care centers: $97,200
However, an orthopedic nurse practitioner will earn a higher wage. According to BLS salary data, the median annual wage for nurse practitioners was $121,610 in May 2022—with half of nurse practitioners earning more than that amount and half earning less. Wages of nurse practitioners in the lowest 10 percent averaged $87,340. Wages of nurse practitioners in the highest 10 percent averaged $165,240.
Since most orthopedic nurse practitioners care for patients in hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, ambulatory care settings, and patients’ homes, the following median annual salaries may apply:
General medical and surgical hospitals: $129,330
Home health care services: $148,960
Offices of other health practitioners: $112,660
Offices of physicians: $121,880
Outpatient care centers: $134,030
The salary of an orthopedic nurse is also influenced by factors such as education, experience, and geographical region of the country.
RNs must also be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure can be obtained by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and meeting any additional requirements of the state’s board of nursing. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) offers a resource to determine state-based nursing licensure requirements.
An orthopedic nurse can also obtain specialty certification by meeting eligibility requirements and taking the exam to earn the ONC® credential offered by the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board (ONCB).
Orthopedic nurses who are advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners, are licensed registered nurses who obtain at least a master’s degree in their specialty role, pass a national certification exam, and hold an APRN license in their state.
An orthopedic nurse who is a nurse practitioner can obtain specialty certification by meeting eligibility requirements and taking the exam to earn one of two credentials provided by the ONCB:
NP Certification
ONC-A™ Advanced Certification (by Portfolio)
What Are the Benefits of Being an Orthopedic Nurse?
There are many benefits to being an orthopedic nurse — including the ability to work in a variety of settings, earn a great salary, and make a big difference in the lives of the patients they serve.
Brook says a variety of experiences influenced her decision to choose orthopedic nursing, and the surgical aspect has been particularly fascinating.
“I got to see how the expertise of our surgeon could impact the lifestyle of our patients, young or old,” she explains. “I believe it is life-changing work, often with healthy patients. …”
As far as what she finds most rewarding, she says relationships with patients top the list: “We may have a patient whom we meet in a wheelchair, who is really limited in their mobility, and when they walk into our clinic unassisted, that is really the best feeling in the world — to know that I was a small part of their healing journey.”
Additional Resources About Becoming an Orthopedic Nurse
To learn more about becoming an orthopedic nurse, these additional resources may help:
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