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Many states require an RN circulator, I believe for Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement this is required as well. The role of the LPN in the OR is generally in the same role as a surgical technologist. Many hospitals have stopped providing extensive on the job training because the STs are already trained in the basics- they should only need to learn the surgeon specific steps. To be honest, I don't think it would be likely to be hired into the OR. My hospital does use LPNs in preop- they are responsible for starting all IVs.
If LPNs can be scrub techs, why can't we be called "scrub nurse"? We are nurses after all, and to be a tech completely negates the "N" in LPN. I'd love to be in the OR!
That's true, but you also have to keep in mind the job title is officially going to be "surgical technologist." Since those roles are filled, in the vast majority, by surgical technologists (not a licensed position in most states) and that is the scope of the LPN in that role, the generic title is just the way many places refer to it. An LPN in the OR isn't going to be doing many nursing duties- my facility restricts counts to the RN circulator (a second ST, even with LPN license, cannot count with the ST at the table), foleys can only be inserted by RNs (hospital wide policy), meds in the OR can only be dispensed to the sterile field by the RN, etc. I've worked with an LPN in the ST role, and never even knew until he left to do home care that he even had an LPN license, because he simply didn't use it in the capacity he filled in the OR.
geminiLPN-2bRN
49 Posts
Can an LPN get certified to assist in the OR as surgical nurses?