Circulating RN Seeking Bridge Program for Scrub Tech

WhoDatWhoDare, BSN, RN · Oct 11, 2016

Is this required in California to allow an RN to scrub? Is it not already in your scope of practice as long as you get OTJ training to scrub?

tsipareht · Oct 11, 2016

I'm already working as a circulator, but there are few opportunities to be provided OJT to scrub due to staffing issues.

PositiveVibesRN · Oct 12, 2016

I understand your situation. I work at a hospital where I only circulate and get zero to minimal scrub experience. They promised scrub training down the road, when i first got hired but due to staffing issues, as well, circulating has been the priority.

I personally feel there are other ways, even better ways to get that training / education. Entering a Surgical Tech Program is going to cost you TIME AND MONEY. That time spent on a Surgical Tech Program can be spent on getting your Master's or even RNFA. I doubt going to a surgical tech program will give you that much of an upper hand too. Don't get me wrong, having that scrub experience is VERY VALUABLE but I would focus on gaining the experience at work or apply for a hospital that will give you that scrub training. We have Student Surgical Techs in our hospital and they say they just learn the basics ( Major Tray, Minor Tray, Sterility but nothing specialize) and learn so much more once they get to our hospital and do their clinicals (which is their last semester). There are so much more trays and instruments than what you learn in a ST Program and nothing beats that experience when you're actually in an OR. You really do learn more ON THE JOB.

There are other ways to learn and take advantage while you're in the OR as a circulator as well. At work, I take the time to familiarize myself with the instruments of each case. During the case, I try to pay attention to the field to learn the process and routine and which instruments are being used. (Why they would use that instrument versus another and for what?) Any questions I have, I talk to my Scrub personnel and learn more about the instruments and about the case. Doing this will also benefit in our circulating role as well.

I also watch my Scrub personnel.. how they set up their Mayo stand for the case, how they organize their instruments, which trays we use, how they handle / put together instruments, how they work with the Surgeon. You can learn a lot by observing.

On slow days, you can pick cases, open up the case with your Scrub, Scrub in on a case to observe, or spend a day in SPD. Even when I have a free hour where I am support or waiting on a case, I go to the Instrument room and look at the instruments. Any questions I have, I always have a go to senior co-worker or the service coordinator. If there are not much slow days, talk to your Charge Nurse or Director about setting up time for you to learn. I try to take initiative when it comes to my education and training because i think.. I have nothing to lose. The least I can do is try and ask my supervisors for the training / support / resources. If those resources are very minimal, then I try to squeeze every learning opportunity at work. We're getting paid while we are doing it anyways and it's specific to the cases you work.

Mind you, I'm still a New Grad RN and a New OR Nurse with 1 year experience.

I'm sure there are other ways / better advice BUT this is what I have learned from my humble experience.