The Hardships and Rewards of Orthopedic Nursing

Orthopedic Nursing
Rawsi Williams once said, “To do what nobody else will do, a way that nobody else can do in spite of all we go through; is to be a nurse.” Being a nurse is not an easy job. First, one must complete on average, four to six years of schooling. After schooling, most beginner nurses are often given night shift jobs, which run from 7:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m. This means that the nurse is up all night, on his or her feet, tending to patients. Once they have put in their time with the night shifts, most nurses have the opportunity to switch to a daytime shift. However, this is not much easier. Daytime nurses spend more time on their feet and are active for about nine to twelve hours each shift, with little rest. Being a nurse is a tough job, and many times people do not chose to be a nurse because of the salary; they chose to be a nurse because they want to help people and to make a difference. It is important to appreciate nurses and all of the hard work they do to help others.
When choosing to be a nurse, there are many different specialties that a person could choose from. There are also several different types of nurses, including a neonatal nurse, a neuroscience nurse, an emergency nurse, a trauma nurse, or a pediatric nurse. However, one of the most common types of nurses is an orthopedic nurse. An orthopedic nurse is responsible for the post-surgery care of patients who have undergone procedures for bones or joints. Orthopedic nurses often deal with patients who have suffered from broken or fractured bones, knee and hip replacements, or even bone and joint diseases, like arthritis (Orthopedic Nurse: Job Responsibilities and Salary Information). The main goal of these nurses is to monitor post-surgery patients, while ...

... middle of paper ...

...se to fix the problem before it becomes deathly. The capnograph works using infrared waves. The infrared waves, which are invisible to the human eye, are absorbed by the CO2 molecules. If the waves are not absorbed, the alert will sound, informing the nurse that the patient most likely had an overdose and has stopped breathing. This piece of technology has helped saved the lives of patients and is used in hospitals all across the country.
There have been several inventions and updates that have simplified the work for a nurse, but that does not take away from the hard work they must put in in order to achieve to success. Nurses are friendly, approachable, and caring people who have a passion for helping others. Their work is not always easy, but society has found ways to make it easier using technology, creating happier lives for both the nurses and the patients.