1The duties for surgical nurses begin well before the operation.2They often start by meeting with patients and their families prior to surgery and explaining the procedure and expected recovery time.3They also sterilize and set up surgical tools, prepare the operating room and help other members of the surgical team put on sterile gowns, gloves and masks.4In addition, they clean and prepare the incision site.5Following the operation, they bandage and stitch up wounds and incisions, transport the patient to the recovery room and monitor him as he awakens from anesthesia.6They continue to provide care until the patient is transferred to another unit, such as intensive care, or discharged from the hospital.7They often work in a highpressure environment that requires them to think quickly and remain calm even in a crisis.8Though the job can be rewarding, every time a general surgical nurse steps into the operating room she faces the possibility of losing the patient9She must have compassion and tact when interacting with worried patients or grieving family members.