Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Circulators

I started out looking for first assistant info and ran across this info, the part I questioned I put in bold. I always thought circulators had to be RN's or does the RN requirement only come into play with medicare/medicade reimbursement? if so, I would imagine it would be hard for a hospital to run if it excluded these groups. any ideas or opinions? I have nothing against surgical techs, just wanted to make that clear.

http://www.ast.org the following info is taken from the ast website. type in first assistant in their search box & this & other info shows up.

who are surgical technologists?

surgical technologists (formerly called operating room technicians) perform many different responsibilities in the operating room. they act as the scrub person, as the circulator,

and as the first assistant on the surgical team. surgical technologists' responsibilities involve preparing the operating room and instruments, equipment, and supplies that will be needed; positioning and preparing the patient for surgery; and passing instruments, sponges, and sutures to the surgeon. surgical technologists are the surgical team's expert in aseptic technique, being constantly vigilant for any break in the technique that could endanger

the sterile field so necessary to the successful outcome of the operation. those not familiar with the profession may assume surgical technologists are nurses or nursing assistants, which they are not. surgical technologists belong to a separate non-nursing profession of highly skilled, credentialed allied health professionals that possesses specialized education and training to work specifically in the operating room.

how can you support your constituents who are surgical technologists?

carefully scrutinize any purposed regulations that could restrict the use of surgical technologists.

there have been efforts made by nursing groups in many states to regulate the role of surgical technologists and restrict their full utilization, particularly in the first assistant and circulating roles. because hospital accreditation standards do not require an RN to circulate, nursing groups are attempting in some states to make this a legal or regulatory requirement at the state level. these effort will lead to hospitals having no choice in the provider they employ and could cost csts their jobs. if nursing groups are successful in their efforts to restrict this profession, it could result in your constituents who

are surgical technologists losing their jobs.

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    What happens when the patient codes in the OR? Who checks blood with the anesthesia provider? I worked as a CST in the OR and would not have wanted to circulate. Too much responsibility that I wasn't trained for. I'm sorry, but every patient deserves a RN circulator.

  • Quote
    Hello,

    As a former CST graduating from an approved Surgical Technology program in the eighties. I definately do not agree that a CST should be placed in the role of a circulator. My program at that time did not entail assessment of the patient prior to surgery, did not explain lab values, did not talk about different fluid replacement, it focused on the surgical procedure the anatomy, phisiology, the steps of the procedure, sterile technique, and maintaining a sterile field and last but not least instrumentation. At the time I thought I could circulate didn't seem to be much to it. Then I went to nursing school fully thinking that I would be an OR nurse.

    I learned about assessing the patient, learned about disease process, more in depth understanding of lab values and why they are important. I also understand that now some surgical technology programs are two years long. However they are still only geared for the operating room. It is a different area of nursing unique to itself, but as stated previously every patient deserves a registered nurse!

    CST's are very valuable to the surgical team, they do bring expertise to the table every day, I don't think that their jobs will ever be in jeaparody. I think with proper training they can be first assisants and excel at it. There is room for both professions in the OR! Just my two cents.

    I agree 100% with your post..I too was a surgical technologist before I was a nurse. My program was similar to yours-we had in depth training on instrumentation, and surgical procedures but did not receive the training that allows a n RN to get the "big picture" regarding a patient. I also thought I was going to have it made when I graduated..I found out that,done correctly, circulating is a challenging job with ridiculous amounts of responsibility. I also still scrub on occasion and view it as a break, because the scrub pretty much just focuses on the field and the surgeon. The circulator focuses on the field, the surgeon, the tech,anesthesia and most important, the patient as a whole. Throw in the fact that I run the board on my shift and I'm worrying about what goes on in other rooms as well.

    I know at least in my state, the circulator must be an RN and this shows no signs of changing anytime soon.

  • Quote

    How on earth did we get off on this tangent? The problem seems to lie in the fact that not all techs are educated the same, just as all RN's don't receive the same level of education. Not all states require techs to be certified. Not all RN's are certified, either. This is what needs to be addressed and with the same fervor as this discussion. We can argue or discuss all day long between ourselves and get no results or we can get involved in the Grassroots movements involving these issues. How many of you have contacted your representatives at either the state or federal level? There is legislation being considered.

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.