Role of Scrub Nurse

Purpose:

- To maintain/ensure a sterile surgical field and cleanliness of workplace
- The scrub nurse and the circulator work together in co-ordination to accomplish the task necessary to achieve a common goal in OT
- To promote safety and welfare of every patient
- To assist the surgeon.
- To assist the surgical team and scrub nurse

Prior to surgery:

- Check surgeons’ preference and collect special equipment, sutures and instruments etc. accordingly
- Performs scrubbing, gowning, gloving according to OT policies.
- Drapes trolley and bowl stand with sterile pre pack set.
- Checks along with the circulator the contents of each instrument set as per the enclosed list
- Collects from circulator sutures, needles, blades and necessary sterile equipment
- Checks swabs, packs, instruments and needles with circulator
- Ensure that the findings are chartered and displayed on the count record sheet
- Drapes mayo table and prepare initially required instruments.
- Confirms the circulator for identity of correct patient, with ID band, indoor paper and OT list
- Ensure that patient is positioned safely
- Prepare mayo table with following items; - scalp, dissecting scissor small artery forceps, toothed and non-toothed dissecting forceps, diathermy cord with pencil.

At the commencement of the surgery:

- Assists for skin preparation by providing sponges on sponge holder to surgeon
- Assists in applying drapes
- Passes towel clips to the surgeon
- Position the mayo table




- Hands over diathermy cord and suction tubing’s to circulator or OT attendant for the attachment and checks diathermy setting with surgeon

During surgery:

- Hands over sponges to the surgeon and assistant surgeon
- Passes instruments sponge’s sutures as needed, and replace instruments on mayo table from the trolley as operation proceeds.
- Keeps accurate count of extra sponges, needles OR instruments collected during the operation.
- Anticipates the needs of the surgeon by continuous observation of progress of operation.
- Ensure that the noise & movement in the theater is kept to a minimum
- Ensure that a sterile field is maintained throughout the surgery.
- Before the surgeon closes the cavity, the scrub nurse check sponges, instruments, and needles in accordance with theater policy, informs finding to be surgeon.
- Checked with the circulator for availability of appropriate wound dressing. Collects dressing from the circulator & hands it over to surgeon.
- Hands over specimen to the circulator if needed.

- Removes instrument from mayo trolley.
- Removes blade from the handles & disposes of sharp container.
- Removes drapes from patient.
- Ensure that the area around the dressing is clean & dry & clothes the patient

After surgery:

- Cover the patient with clean sheet.
- Removes scrub nurse gown & gloves.
- As & when permitted by the anesthetist, shift patient from OT table to trolley.
- Accompanies the patient to recovery room & gives all relevant information to the recovery nurse.
- Completes entry in the case register, charge sheet.
- Informs the concerned ward nursing staff
- Check the instruments & other equipment.

📌 staff nurse- OT (Mumbai)
🏢 Max Healthcare
📍 Mumbai