Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities 

(Scrub Nurse/ Circulating Nurse)

SCRUB NURSE

Under the supervision of the Head Nurse of the unit, the operating room scrub nurse is responsible for the safety of the patients while in the operating room and assists in the supervision of non-professional in the area

1. Performs the following duties of the scrub nurse:

a. Scrubs gowns and gloves;

b. Sets up the operating room with all necessary equipment and packs;

c. Arrange instruments according to routine for given procedures;

d. Works as a member of the surgical team efficiently during the procedure

• Knows all basic set-up

• Handles instruments

• Knows needles and suture materials

• Reviews surgeon’s individual preferences

• Carefully handles specimen

2. Performs duties normally delegated to the circulating nurse as needed

3. Responsible for patient’s safety at all times

4. Supervises and directs the activities of non-professional personnel

5. Assist nursing students and trainees in their clinical experience

CIRCULATING NURSE

1. Monitoring the progress of surgery and maintains the smooth flow of events before, during and after the surgery

2. Anticipates the needs of the team especially the additional instruments/ medications in cases of unforeseen complication/ eventualities outside the planned procedure

3. Checks the cleanliness of the operating room and sees it that all fixtures and equipment’s are properly maintained and in working order

4. Prepares everything needed for the scheduled surgical operations including special equipment and assist the scrub nurse in case of an emergency situation

5. Receives the patient as he is brought in from the floor/ wards and checks the pre-operative checklist, which accompanies him/ her at the end of the operation, he/ she assist doctors in transferring pout of patient

6. Coordinates with the surgeon during the operation and provides for adequate assistance throughout the operation.

7. Gives patient care immediately prior to surgery like positioning, skin preparation, proving physical comfort and assist in the administration of the anesthesia

8. Takes charge of all accountable materials used in the operation such as sponges, packs, needles, instruments, etc.

9. Takes charge of all specimens/ tissues or foreign excised or removed from the patient in any procedure

10. Take charge of the recording, charging of all procedures done in the assigned OR