How to Become a Sports Medicine Nurse
Curious about becoming a sports medicine nurse? These clinicians work with athletes and active individuals to help prevent, assess, and treat injuries related to sports and exercise. This specialized branch of orthopedic nursing has a highly specific patient population, and it’s a great choice for nurses who are passionate about athletics.
Over 3.5 million sports-related injuries occur each year, often requiring visits to the emergency department, surgery, or multiple follow-up appointments. Sprains, strains, fractures, concussions, and overuse injuries can happen amongst athletes and the general population alike. Nursing and sports medicine are a great pair — nurses bring bedside skills and critical thinking to this dynamic specialty.
What’s a Sports Medicine Registered Nurse and What Do They Do?
These specialized RNs focus on preventing, assessing, and managing injuries related to sports, exercise, and physical activity. They’re trained to recognize acute injuries as well as chronic overuse conditions. They also play a key role in patient education, rehabilitation planning, and injury prevention strategies.
Sports medicine nurses work closely with multidisciplinary teams, primarily in sports medicine clinics, private medical teams, professional and collegiate athletic programs, and outpatient practices. While responsibilities in this role are specific to the work settings, they can include the following:
- Conducting initial injury assessments and triage
- Monitoring recovery progress and managing follow-up care
- Educating patients on injury prevention, safe exercise techniques, and performance optimization
- Assisting with rehabilitation plans and exercises
- Advising athletes and coaches on safe return-to-play decisions
Sports Medicine Nursing: Pros and Cons
What might you like and dislike about this role? Check out some of the potential pros and cons:
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Work with a specialized patient population of generally healthy patients.
Enjoy close interdisciplinary collaboration with physicians, physical therapists, trainers, and coaches. The work environment may be dynamic, hands-on, and physically active. |
Jobs may be rare, competitive, and location-specific.
Limited formal training pathways mean most specialty skills are learned on the job. Depending on the role, scheduling may require evening and weekend availability. |
Starting a Nursing Career in Sports Medicine: 4 Steps
Step 1: Complete a Prelicensure Nursing Program
The first step toward a career in sports medicine nursing is becoming an RN. While both an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) meet licensure requirements, a BSN may be preferred for more specialized roles like this one.
During nursing school, you’ll take classes in pathophysiology and nursing assessments, where you’ll learn the basics of orthopedic injuries and how to evaluate them. Try to request clinical rotations or experiences in areas that align closely with sports medicine and injury treatment:
- Orthopedics
- Urgent care
- Occupational health
- School or campus health nursing
Step 2: Pass the NCLEX-RN
After graduating from a prelicensure program, you’ll need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). This exam ensures that you have the knowledge and critical thinking skills to safely practice as a registered nurse. Depending on your state, you’ll likely need to complete an additional licensure process to legally become an RN. Learn about preparing for the NCLEX.
Step 3: Gain Experience
Sports medicine roles can be competitive, and most require experience. Many new nurses begin their careers in nurse residency programs, which are most common in acute care specialties. You might consider working in an inpatient orthopedic unit, the emergency department, or a rehabilitation center.
Consider strengthening your skills by learning about fitness nursing, wellness programs, or athletic training. You might become certified as a rehabilitation nurse (CRRN) or as an orthopedic nurse (ONC). The goal is to develop expertise in injury assessment, rehabilitation support, and patient education.
Step 4: Apply for Roles in Sports Medicine
Once you have your RN license and relevant experience, it’s time to start applying for nursing roles in sports medicine. Remember to update your registered nurse resume with your most recent skills and certifications, and review our tips on navigating common nursing job interview questions. Be sure to highlight your passion for helping patients prevent and recover from injuries.
Sports Medicine Nurse Salary and Career Outlook
On average, sports medicine nurses earn about $80,300 per year. Pay varies widely based on your location, experience, clinical setting, any additional certifications you have, and the amount of responsibility you take on in your role. If you’re looking for nursing jobs in the areas with the highest average RN salaries, explore open positions in these states:
What’s the long-term outlook of nursing careers in sports medicine? The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 5% growth in jobs for RNs in the next several years, which is faster than average. And as sports participation increases, the demand for specialists in this area is likely to grow.
Sports Medicine Nursing FAQ
Is there a sports medicine nurse certification?
Massachusetts General Hospital offers an orthopedic and sports medicine certificate program for nurse practitioners and physician assistants. There is not currently a specialized certification for RNs in this area.
What’s the difference between sports medicine nursing and orthopedic nursing?
Sports medicine nurses focus on injury prevention, acute sports-related injuries, and rehabilitation for athletes and active patients. Orthopedic nurses care for a broader range of musculoskeletal conditions, including surgical recovery, degenerative joint diseases, and fractures not necessarily linked to athletics.
Do sports medicine nurses work directly with athletes?
Yes, they may work with athletes depending on the setting. Sports medicine nurses may educate athletes on injury prevention, provide first-line care for injuries, and support recovery and rehabilitation. In other roles, they may primarily work with non-athletes who have sports-style injuries.
How does this role compare to becoming an athletic trainer?
Athletic trainers are allied health professionals who focus on helping athletes excel in a given sport, while sports medicine nurses bring a medical and nursing perspective, handling clinical tasks.
Get Specialty Nursing Roles in Your Inbox
Looking for work as a sports medicine nurse? We can help you score the role you’ve been looking for. Sign up for personalized job notifications to get a custom list of opportunities in your inbox. Learn more today.