Orthopedic Nurse Career Guide and Counseling

Question: what is the difference between an orthopedic nurse and a physical therapist? Is nursing a good job? Answers from nurses or PTs are most appreciated. What is the difference in job duties, pay, hours, opportunities? Aside from this, is nursing a good job to get into compared to PT? I heard good and bad about nursing.. I just want to make sure I get the right info... Is it true that all nurses have to train how to deal with human corpse and clean up after their patients when they go to the washroom or bathe the patients?

Answer: They are both good jobs. National average salary for PTs is about $66,000 and RN is about $10,000 less...but depends highly on your level of education, setting and shift your work. An orthopedic nurse is typically one who works on an orthopedic unit in a hospital. They do normal "nursing" type things, performing nursing assessments, dispensing medications, dressing wounds, assisting with patient mobility, completing family/patient education, etc. They might also work privately for an orthopedic surgeon. A physical therapist, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with the evaluation and treatment of patients who have mobility or funcitonal impairments. There is sigifincant potential exposure to blood and "other" body fluids in both nursing and physical therapy...however, again, this will depend on your setting. Since I work in an outpatient setting, this is rare for me. However, as a physical therapist, I was required to take gross human anatomy which requires full dissection of a cadaver. I believe nursing students have a much more limited exposure to this. ...Both PTs and RNs may be required to assist a patient to the bathroom.... ...Hours: for PTs, mostly days with some evenings if you are in the outpatient setting...occasional weekends and holidays. For RNs, if you work privately...mostly day time hours. For the vast majority, however, RNs could be in either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd shift with being required to work several weekends and holidays.

Question: What is the role of a nurse when dealing patients with orthopedic tractions? What is the role of a nurse when dealing patients with orthopedic traction apparatus? Why is it important to know these tractions as a nurse when caring with patients that actually have it? To those people who don't know what orthopedic traction means... It is defined as is a kind of traction apparatus with the use of a pulling force to treat muscle and skeleton disorders and is usually applied to the arms and legs, the neck, the backbone, or the pelvis. It is used to treat fractures, dislocations, and long-duration muscle spasms, and to prevent or correct deformities. FYI: I will be choosing the Best Answer A.S.A.P.

Answer: The nurse is responsible for making sure the traction is applied correctly & being maintained every shift. The nurse checks for signs & symptoms of the client not tolerating the traction. The nurse also needs to keep the patient in proper alignment when providing personal care. It is the nursing staff who are responsible for originally setting up the traction to the bed & patient.

Question: Orthopedic Nurse to Orthopedic Surgeon? Would it look good if you apply into a medical school with a bachelor degree in orthopedic nursing? Especially if you wanted to become an orthopedic surgeon?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Best Orthopedic book for nurse intern? I am a nursing student about to start my internship in Orthopedics Surgery. I want to purchase a book or two to read on my own for preparation. What books would you recommend? I'll take any suggestions, by preferably something that's straightforward, easy to read, and visual. Thanks!

Answer: You can look for good, simply explained orthopedic surgery books for nurses in the following place. You can order them via intenet and the delivary is very quick. ( my personal experience) The titles can be checked along with their content in the included site... http://www.betterworld.com/list.aspx?SearchTerm=orthopedic+text+book+for+nurses P.S. You can try for also a second hand used book there. They are rather alittle more than half price. ( or reduced price offer) CLICK here. http://www.betterworld.com/Orthopaedics-and-Sports-Medicine-for-Nurses-id-0683034332-c-0.aspx http://www.betterworld.com/Orthopedic-Nursing-Secrets-id-156053530X-c-0.aspx

Question: Is there anyone offering a Course for Orthopedic Nurses Credentialling? I have nurses working in the Orthopedic Unit at the Hospital where I work and I would like to offer them a Course to be certified as Orthopedic Nurses - something to add onto their CV. It would have to be Internationally recognised.

Answer: If you work in a hospital in the U.S. you should probably start by discussing this with the vice president of nursing or something along those lines. You don't even state what your credentials are. I work for an orthopaedic departmetn and are nurses are not specifically certified for ortho, though that's where they work. If you want something internationally recognized, you may need to appeal to the AAOS or something.

Question: What is orthopedic nurse? How do you become one. what is the job description? and what eduction do you need. What do i need to now that in in my second year of H.S

Answer: a nurse who assists a orthopedist (which is a doctor specializing in bone problems and diseases)

Question: Do you guys like cute girls that wear big, baggy nurse scrubs? What if their big, white, cotton Granny panties are hanging out a bit at the top because the elastic is shot? But the girl is really old, but still hawt and has really, really cool bifocals that hang on a chain around her neck? And orthopedic nurse shoes or Crocs?

Answer: OMG !!!! I just got a woodie reading this question !!!!!!!! NURSES ARE ALWAYS HAWT no matter what age I sometimes get hurt just so i can go to the E R to check out all the nurses!!!!!!!!!!! There is just something about scrubs and crocs that TURNS ME ON..................

Question: I really need an orthopedic Doctor or nurse to IM me? Ok I really need to talk to one b/c im haveing a problem with my toe and ireally need to tlk to them so if there is 1 reading this now u can IM me on Yahoo messenger my im is Tigger4305@yahoo.com my toe really hurts bad i really need to tlk 2 sum 1

Answer: go ot the ER and or call the dr urself or have your parents call for you so you can find out whats wrong with ur toe.

Question: Be honest please: Would it be better if i got my ADN or BSN to be a nurse? Or get my ADN then go for my BSN later. I really don't ever want to be a head nurse or manager or anything. I plan on being an RN and just working in ER or Orthopedic Unit! Advise please thanks!

Answer: As long as you aren't planning on becoming a Nurse Manager or Nurse Educator, then you can do without the BSN for now.

Question: Registered Nurses? Orthopedic Doctors? How long do you have to be in college for both? And do orthopedic doctors do surgery? Like do you absolutely HAVE to do surgery if you become one? I really want to be an RN but bones and such are so interesting to me! Thanks!!

Answer: Orthopedic Doctors are MD's (medical doctors) that have gone through specialized training. And, yes, orthopedics mostly do surgery. Becoming an orthopedic requires 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, 2 years of internship and 2 years of residency then perhaps 2-4 years of specialized training in orthopedics. Becoming an RN can happen in 2 ways. You can get into an Associates Degree RN program and then take the RN exam (NCLEX) which is a 2 year program. Or you can get into a Bachelor's Degree RN program which is a 4 year degree and then take the NCLEX. After you get your Associates Degree and pass the RN exam, you can always go back to school to get your Bachelor's degree. If you're interested in bones, you can always become an RN and specialize as an orthopedic - assisting in the operating room or in an orthopedic's office.

Question: If my daughter wants to work with orthopedic dr.office or in surgery with orthopedic what does she need 2 ? major in as her profession would it be nursing or surgery nurse .

Answer: She should major as a surgical nurse.

Question: Anyone have any tricks to finding a pedal pulse? I have a very hard time finding pedal pulses!! It is very important to since I will be precepting on an orthopedic floor as a nurse! They are extremely important assessments with hip and knee replacements/surgeries! Thanks!

Answer: I don't think there are any real tricks. You just have to know approximately where to feel. For the DP I usually start feeling just lateral to the proximal head of the first metatarsal. If I can't find it, I'll check to either side as far as about a cm away. If I still can't find it, I'll check further up at the ankle flexure (right in the middle). Usually it's harder to find the DP here, but I have had patients where the reverse was true (at this location I guess it is technically anterior tib, not DP). If you still can't find it, use the Doppler. Go systematically: start from the medial side of the proximal head of the 1st metatarsal and inch your way laterally until you (hopefully) hear something. With the Doppler, if I don't find anything that way, I'll move down the crease between the first and second metatarsals (technically, this is a metatarsal artery that branches off the DP). If nothing, I'll go up to the ankle flexure. I find the PT much more difficult to palpate. The problem is that a lot of people have extra tissue there and you have to push with some amount of force to feel it. If you push too hard, you may completely occlude it and not feel it pulsate. Again, don't be shy about using the Doppler. Remember that the PT curls around the medial malleolus. In some people it's easier to feel/Doppler superior and posterior to the malleolus. In other people it's easier to find it inferior and posterior. For people with a lot of edema, you just have to press firmly for a long period of time until the edema is pushed away from where you are pressing (so you will leave indentations where you were feeling). When you are just learning, it is helpful to use the Doppler to help show you where you should be feeling. Remember to mark where you got good signals, so the next time you check you'll check the exact same location and can accurately assess changes. Don't confuse your own pulse with the patient's. When pressing on something with your fingers, you will often feel your own finger pulsating. Even experienced people make this mistake sometimes (the difference is very subtle). One way to try to distinguish them is to use your other hand to feel your radial pulse. That way you can check if the pulse your finger is feeling is yours or the patient's. Honestly, unless there is a huge difference in your heart rate and the patient's, this is actually harder than it sounds. ADDENDUM: One other thing - I use three fingers at a time when trying to find the pulse in order to cover more area.

Question: What's a good career move for an RN (7 years, no management experience, MBA/MSN) outside of being a HeadNurse? I've been a Registered Nurse for 7 years, but the closest I've come to management is being the nurse in charge. Currently, I'm in an online dual degree program working on earning a Masters of Business Administration (MBA), and a Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN)--with the focus on Health Care Management. I've recently returned from a trip to Brooklyn, New York where I shadowed Head Nurses (Nurse Managers) and Directors of Nursing (DON). The DONs were walking on sunshine while the Head Nurses were stressesd out. Being stressed out on the units is why I'd gone back to school. I love orthopedic nursing, especially working with the elderly patients, but I'm looking for something more. After I graduate, a job I'd love would be helping people, have autonomy to do what is needed to achieve the expected goals, work with a small group of people, and be able to advance in my career. I'd really like to know what and where this dream job is, and how to find it, because I know it exists.

Answer: Well, you may want to consider working in a rehab facility, since you're into ortho and geriatrics. Much less stress than working withthe acutely ill. With your advanced degrees, you can also work in administration, or as a teacher. You're right. The ideal job has to be out there. I'm still stressing away in my own ER. Good luck!

Question: WHERE CAN I BUY NURSING SHOES IN OXFORDSHIRE? ....u know, like proper orthopedic nurse shoes, at least we call them that in the USA. i am in banbury, so the closer the shop...the better x

Answer: online ?

Question: What shoes would be a good combination of comfort and style for nursing school? I'll be a first year nursing student. Shoes must be all leather, closed toe and heel, and all white with no other color. A lot of shoes I'm finding are rather orthopedic looking and I'm wanting something cute and young looking, but good for my feet during long clinicals and shifts. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Answer: Ask here at allnurses.com I think they might even have some threads already about shoes. Check it out! http://allnurses.com/nursing-shoes-footwear/

Question: pictures of bradford, stryker, whitman, and balkan frames? it is a orthopedic nursing

Answer: Edward: It is very unlikely your question will be answered here as questions in this category are about genealogy/family trees. I suggest you move your question to the Medicine section under Science & Mathematics so you will attract the attention of people who actually know about this ;-) http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/dir/;_ylt=AsmIHjhJID4nu4CX_JmB9igAGAx.?link=list&sid=396545452 You're far more likely to receive good information in the proper category. Good Luck!