Orthopedic nurses specialize in caring for patients with musculoskeletal conditions. Learning how to become an orthopedic nurse starts with earning a nursing degree. You’ll complete classes, labs and clinical rotations. Then, pass the NCLEX-RN to obtain an RN license and start applying to orthopedic nursing jobs.
To become an orthopedic registered nurse (RN), you must earn a nursing degree, pass the NCLEX‑RN, and obtain your RN license. Orthopedic nursing is an entry-level specialty, so new RNs may apply for these positions without prior professional nursing experience. After examining how to become an orthopedic nurse, you can start working toward your degree at Averett University.
Averett’s Accelerated BSN (ABSN) program confers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 16 months, allowing students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 college credits to earn a nursing degree quickly. The program includes 488 hours of clinical rotations at nearby healthcare facilities, giving you hands-on experience across multiple specialties.
In addition to learning how to become an orthopedic nurse, explore what orthopedic RNs do and where they work. Answer common questions, such as “How long does it take to become an orthopedic nurse?” to decide if this career suits you.
What Is an Orthopedic Nurse, and What Do They Do?
An orthopedic nurse specializes in caring for patients with musculoskeletal conditions, including injuries, diseases and disorders. These RNs treat people across the lifespan with acute and chronic conditions. They may work with patients who have arthritis, fractures, bone tumors or chronic joint pain.
Common orthopedic RN duties include:
- Applying casts to immobilize broken limbs
- Delivering patient and family caregiver education
- Helping patients with movement
- Performing patient assessments
- Managing patients’ pain
- Providing pre-operative and post-operative care
Where Do Orthopedic Nurses Work?
Many orthopedic nurses work in hospital orthopedic departments. Others practice in outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, long‑term care facilities or orthopedic surgery centers, focusing on pre- and post-operative care.
Skills Needed for Success in Orthopedic Nursing
Orthopedic RNs need strong clinical skills, such as patient assessment, pain management, wound care and patient education. They must also know how to prepare patients for surgery and provide post-operative care.
In addition to clinical skills, certain soft skills are helpful for a career in orthopedic nursing. These include:
- Attention to detail
- Communication skills
- Emotional intelligence
- Patience
- Teamwork
Because orthopedic patients may be frustrated by their limitations, orthopedic RNs should also be skilled at encouraging them and navigating difficult interactions.
Discover the essential soft skills that nurses need for patient care.
Orthopedic Nurse Requirements: Steps to Enter the Field
Learning how to become an orthopedic nurse begins with exploring your nursing school options. Those without prior college experience can pursue a traditional BSN; however, candidates with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or college credits may be eligible for an accelerated BSN program, such as Averett’s ABSN. Accelerated programs apply students’ prior college credits toward their BSN, allowing them to graduate in typically less than two years.
Earn a Nursing Degree
Every nursing program offers a unique curriculum. When looking for the right one for you, make sure the program is accredited, as this signifies it meets the educational standards required for nursing licensure and practice.
While nursing programs vary, you can generally expect them to combine coursework with in-person experiences. For example, Averett’s accredited ABSN program combines online courses with hands-on labs and clinicals. Online classes cover nursing theory, while skills labs teach hands-on care such as IV placement and medication administration. Simulation labs let you practice clinical decision-making through simulated patient care scenarios.
Students also participate in clinical rotations at nearby healthcare facilities. Through these experiences, you will provide patient care in community health, mental health, women’s health and other specialties under close supervision.
Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam
Most nursing students take the NCLEX-RN within a few months after graduation. It’s recommended to start preparing as soon as the first semester of nursing school, and you should plan to use the months leading up to the exam for full-time studying. The NCLEX-RN assesses your nursing knowledge and ability to apply it through critical thinking and clinical judgment.
After passing the exam, you can obtain a nursing license from your state’s board of nursing.
Explore study tips that can help you prepare for the NCLEX-RN.
Gain Experience in Orthopedic Nursing
Once you’re a licensed RN, apply to orthopedic jobs in rehabilitation centers, surgery centers or hospital departments. If you can’t secure a position immediately, gain experience in a related area, such as medical‑surgical nursing, before transitioning.
Pursue Orthopedic Nurse Certifications
With experience, you may pursue certification. Though optional, certifications showcase your expertise and can enhance your career. To qualify for the Orthopaedic Nurse Certified (ONC®) credential from the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board, you need at least two years of RN experience and 1,000 hours in orthopedic nursing.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Orthopedic Nurse?
Becoming an orthopedic RN can take anywhere from 16 months to over 4 years, depending on your starting point. For example, if you enroll in a traditional BSN after high school, you’ll likely graduate in four years. Alternatively, some nurses choose to enroll in an associate’s degree program, which typically takes two years to complete.
Individuals with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or college credits who are looking to change career paths may be eligible for an accelerated BSN program, which can usually be completed in less than two years. Averett’s ABSN program enables you to graduate in as few as 16 months, not including the time needed to complete prerequisites.
Regardless of how you earn your degree, you can take the licensure exam a few months after graduation. If you pass on your first attempt, you’ll obtain your nursing license and begin applying for your first orthopedic nursing job.
Orthopedic Nurse Salary and Career Outlook
Nursing offers stability and competitive pay. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a median annual salary of $93,600 for RNs in May 2024 and projects a 5% growth in available jobs from 2024 through 2034. These figures aren’t specific to orthopedics but provide a general idea of what RNs earn.
Why Orthopedic Nursing Is a Rewarding Career Choice
Orthopedic nursing can be a good career choice for those seeking a hands-on specialty with collaborative patient care. As an orthopedic RN, you’ll focus on restoring patients’ health, helping them regain mobility or manage chronic conditions.
Orthopedic nurses can further specialize by patient population, such as pediatric or geriatric, or by focusing on sports medicine or surgical care. Many possibilities exist.
How an ABSN Program Prepares Future Orthopedic Nurses
An ABSN program offers the same quality of education you can expect from a traditional BSN program, preparing you for any specialty, including orthopedics. You’ll gain a strong grasp of the musculoskeletal system and related diseases and injuries through coursework and other nursing school experiences.
Nursing labs teach essential skills like wound care and casting. Clinical rotations allow you to provide basic patient care and learn from other nurses. By graduation, you’ll be ready to take the NCLEX-RN and become an orthopedic RN.
Start Your Path Toward a Career in Orthopedic Nursing
Averett University offers a faster path to meeting the orthopedic nurse requirements. With a non‑nursing bachelor’s degree or 60 college credits, you may earn your BSN in as few as 16 months through our ABSN program in Norfolk, Virginia. You’ll receive personalized support from our admissions team throughout the admissions process and from our Academic Success Coaches and dedicated faculty during nursing school.
Request info today and connect with an admissions advisor to get started.