Otorhinolaryngology Nurse

Long name for a nurse. Otorhinolaryngology Nursing also called the “Head and Neck” Nurse involves caring for patients with chronic illness, disease, or small disorders related to the head. They examine skin, necks, ears, noses, oral cavities, and cranial nerves. There is even an organization for networking and locating continued education courses, it is aptly named The Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Nurses (SOHN).

You must have an associates degree in nursing or your BSN. You must pass you NCLEX and take the certification exam of Otorhinolaryngology. 

THINGS YOU'LL DO:

• Diagnose patients
• Provide support for patients undergoing medical and surgical procedures
• Assist with radiation treatments

YOUR JOB CHARACTERISTICS:

• Multifaceted
• Patient-facing

I have additional information about the certification exam. In order to take the Certified Otorhinolaryngology Nurse exam, the applicant must be a licensed Registered Nurse. It is recommended that the RN have at least 3 years of experience working in the field of ear, nose, and throat nursing while providing direct patient care to this population of patients. At this time, no specific continuing education credit hours are required to obtain initial certification.

The exam is offered twice a year, in the Spring and Fall, during a 2-week testing period at testing centers located across the United States. The fee to take the exam is $325 for members of the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Nurses (SOHN) or $425 for non-members.

There are 250 multiple-choice questions on the exam and the RN is allotted 4 hours in which to complete the exam. Over one-third of the exam contains questions pertaining to nursing interventions for the patient with an otorhinolaryngological condition. Another one-third of the questions test the RN's knowledge of specific head and neck conditions. The remaining one-third of the exam pertain to nursing assessment and professional issues.

The Certified Otorhinolaryngology Nurse certification is valid for 5 years. At the end of that time period, the exam can be retaken to recertify or specific continuing education activities to earn contact hours must have been completed.

Salary: $94-$98,000