Orthopaedic nursing (or orthopedic nursing) is a

nursing Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health ...

specialty focused on the prevention and treatment of

musculoskeletal disorders Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries or pain in the human musculoskeletal system, including the joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, tendons, and structures that support limbs, neck and back. MSDs can arise from a sudden exertion (e.g., li ...

Orthopaedic Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics ( alternatively spelt orthopaedics), is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal ...

issues range from acute problems such as

fracture Fracture is the separation of an object or material into two or more pieces under the action of stress. The fracture of a solid usually occurs due to the development of certain displacement discontinuity surfaces within the solid. If a displ ...

s or hospitalization for

joint replacement Replacement arthroplasty (from Greek ''arthron'', joint, limb, articulate, + ''plassein'', to form, mould, forge, feign, make an image of), or joint replacement surgery, is a procedure of orthopedic surgery in which an arthritic or dysfunctional ...

to chronic systemic disorders such as loss of bone density or

lupus erythematosus Lupus erythematosus is a collection of autoimmune diseases in which the human immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks healthy tissues. Symptoms of these diseases can affect many different body systems, including joints, skin, kidneys, blo ...

. Orthopaedic nurses have specialized skills such as neurovascular status monitoring, traction,

continuous passive motion Continuous passive motion (CPM) devices are used during the first phase of rehabilitation following a soft tissue surgical procedure or trauma. The goals of phase 1 rehabilitation are: control post-operative pain, reduce inflammation, provide pass ...

therapy,

casting Casting is a manufacturing process in which a liquid material is usually poured into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowed to solidify. The solidified part is also known as a ''casting'', which is ejecte ...

, and care of patients with external fixation.

Board certification

Certification in general orthopaedic nursing results in the designation "

Orthopaedic Nurse Certified Orthopaedic Nurse, Certified (ONC) is the designation for an orthopaedic nurse who has earned nursing board certification from the Orthopaedic Nurses Certification Board (ONCB) Job Description ONBC helps develop muscle health by administering a ...

" (ONC).

Dates

* International Orthopaedic Nurses Day is October 30. *

Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low bone mass, micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to bone fragility, and consequent increase in fracture risk. It is the most common reason for a broken bone a ...

Awareness and Prevention Month is May.National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month 2015
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References

External links

National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses websiteOrthopaedic Nurses Certification Board website

CORE Orthopaedic

Institute of Orthopaedic Research & Fracture SurgeryRCN career and competency framework for orthopaedic and trauma nursing
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orthopaedic Nursing Nursing specialties Orthopedic treatment

Board certification

Dates

See also

References

External links