Also called: Operating Room Nurse, OR Nurse, Circulating Nurse
A registered nurse who cares for patients before, during, and right after surgery.
As the circulating nurse, checks the patient's identity and consent, counts every sponge and needle, keeps the sterile field safe, and is the patient's advocate while they're asleep.
Estimate based on BLS registered nurses.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. RN license plus OR training; CNOR certification.
Ways in: 4-year college, 2-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Nursing (BSN), Nursing (ADN).
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. Smart counting and tracking systems reduce manual sponge counts; advocating for patients and running the OR stay with the nurse.
Classes: Biology, Anatomy & physiology, Chemistry, Health science CTE.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1141.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.