Sports Medicine Nurse

Sports medicine is a sub-specialty of orthopedic medicine, largely involving injuries or traumas suffered as a result of training for or competing in an athletic event.

Physicians in this field are primarily orthopedic surgeons who treat athletes and physically active people for acute and chronic injuries that cause various degrees of immobility.

Sports medicine nurses are typically nurse practitioners (NP’s) that help physicians care for patients experiencing various musculoskeletal injures, including muscle strains, joint sprains, torn ligaments, bone fractures, and dislocations. Patients can range from recreational youth players to professional athletes. It’s the job of the sports medicine nurse to take a patient’s history, assist the doctor with his or her treatment plan, and educate the patient on how to avoid future injuries.

These specialty nurses usually are found working in orthopedic practices and clinics. Some nurses also work at first aid stations at various sporting events. They often function as part of a team with physicians, physician assistants and physical therapists.

The NP profession was listed as having a mean salary of $95,000 in 2013, however in the sports medicine or ortho setting this figure may be higher. Average salary for orthopedic NP’s was approximately $102,000 in 2014 based on Indeed.com’s data.

Sports Medicine Nurse Job Duties & Responsibilities

In a private practice setting, a sports medicine nurse usually works 40 hours per week or less, typically Monday through Friday, during regular business hours. These nurses may escort patients to the exam rooms, taking health histories, brief screenings and answering any questions they might have. Duties can be as routine as taking blood pressure readings, interviewing patients about how they got their injuries, and recording what the physician says during patient examinations.

After the doctor leaves the room, the nurse reviews everything the doctor told the patient, such as the diagnosis, the plan for treatment, and what he or she is supposed to do at home. He or she might provide samples of medication and explain the side effects or if needed also give an injection or take an x-ray. During the actual surgical procedure the nurse may also assist the physician - in some aspects similar to how a physician assistant would.

One advantage to this type of job is the hours, which are much more predictable than hospital work. The job is varied; sports medicine nurses work with different age groups and can incorporate much of the general knowledge learned in the nursing degree program, in addition to training received from a physician. One downside is that most of the patients are in a hurry to get well. They’re anxious to get back to their sports, and they want to get back now, which means you must be firm in advising them against rushing the healing process.

Sports Medicine Nurse Education & Training

Due to the competition and limited demand for nurses in the sports medicine field, an advanced nursing degree, such as a Master’s in Nurse Practitioning is usually required. Experience as an orthopedic nurse practitioner would help further. Some physicians are more open to working with nurse practitioners or other types of APRN’s and train them specifically for a particular role. It’s more common now to see APRN’s working with orthopedic surgeons.

Now there is an Orthopedic Nursing Certification (ONC) offered by the Orthopedic Nurses Certification Board, which allows nurses interested in getting into orthopedics/sports medicine the opportunity to show their commitment and knowledge of the field. Certifications are available to both RN’s and nurse practitioners. According to the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, around 2% of NP’s work in orthopedics and sports medicine.

Advice on becoming a Sports Medicine or Orthopedic Nurse Practitioner

You’ll definitely need to get your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree w/ Nurse Practitioner specialty. This will require an RN license and Bachelor’s degree. Depending on the particular MSN graduate program, a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) degree may be required.

If you do not wish to pursue a BSN, then a bachelor’s in athletic training, exercise physiology or kinesiology would provide a solid undergraduate education for going into an MSN program.

As an RN, try to get experience with orthopedic physicians either by approaching their practice directly or via job boards such as Indeed. Don’t be afraid to make the most of the connections you have around you, such as your professors, to get your foot into an orthopedic or sports medicine setting!