Orthopaedic nursing is a specialty focused on providing direct care to patients with disorders of the musculoskeletal system, including broken or fractured bones, joint disease, arthritis, tendinitis, tendon rupture, spinal stenosis, osteoporosis, and congenital conditions, to name just a few.
What do orthopaedic nurses do?
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Orthopaedic nurses care for patients in both the chronic and acute stages of disease, assist with increasing mobility and provide education to promote compliance with ongoing treatments.
Where do orthopaedic nurses work?
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Orthopaedic nurses may work in a variety of settings including hospitals (surgical units or operating rooms), outpatient care clinics, ambulatory care units, surgical centers, and offices.
What do orthopaedic nurses need to know?
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A profession in orthopaedic nursing requires:
- an understanding of the musculoskeletal system anatomy and physiology.
- keen neurovascular assessment skills.
- knowledge of orthopaedic diagnostic studies, complications related to surgical procedures and trauma, therapeutic modalities (continuous passive motion, ambulatory devices, fixators, traction, etc.) casting, and pain management.
More orthopaedic nursing resources
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- Nursing Pocket Cards, including neurovascular assessment and assessment of all risk
- Guideline Summaries, including management of surgical site infections
- Blog posts, with infographics, mnemonics, tips, and more
- Journal
- Articles and nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) activities
- Headlines and news stories
- Society partners