Do you prefer to circulate or scrub?

NedRN · Jan 16, 2016

We rotated between scrubbing and circulating at my all RN staff job. It seemed ideal to me because circulating was dull on most cases, and scrubbing hearts a bit too intense to want to do 12 hours daily. So it was a nice daily balance to do both. That said, I prefer scrubbing to circulating in many services because the focus is so much smaller. Less stress.

littlemango · Jan 25, 2016

Hi everyone, I'm very new to the world of OR nursing. As a student nurse, I am very interested in the specialty and am looking to join an OR fellowship at one of the hospitals I work for, which trains new grads and seasoned nurses how to circulate and scrub.

Once in the OR, are you able to choose to scrub or circulate that day, or are you hired specifically as a scrub or circulating nurse? (Sorry, I hope this isn't a dumb question.)

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 25, 2016

Hi everyone, I'm very new to the world of OR nursing. As a student nurse, I am very interested in the specialty and am looking to join an OR fellowship at one of the hospitals I work for, which trains new grads and seasoned nurses how to circulate and scrub.
Once in the OR, are you able to choose to scrub or circulate that day, or are you hired specifically as a scrub or circulating nurse? (Sorry, I hope this isn't a dumb question.)

This will truly depend on the facility and its staffing patterns. My OR is staffed by RNs and surgical technologists (ST). The only role the ST can fill is that of scrub because policy (and in some states, law and per CMS, an RN must be immediately available) dictates that the circulator be an RN. Therefore, it is extremely rare for an RN to scrub unless also an RNFA at my facility. Other facilities may be heavy on RNs or all RNs. Whether you would only circulate, only scrub, or do both will be dependent on the facility and should be something you clarify in an interview.

littlemango · Jan 26, 2016

This will truly depend on the facility and its staffing patterns. My OR is staffed by RNs and surgical technologists (ST). The only role the ST can fill is that of scrub because policy (and in some states, law and per CMS, an RN must be immediately available) dictates that the circulator be an RN. Therefore, it is extremely rare for an RN to scrub unless also an RNFA at my facility. Other facilities may be heavy on RNs or all RNs. Whether you would only circulate, only scrub, or do both will be dependent on the facility and should be something you clarify in an interview.

Thank you for replying, Rose_Queen! I will be sure to ask when I call for more information on the program. I am debating whether or not to become an RNFA, as (I've been told) I have excellent hand-eye coordination with my previous interests and current job, and I am sure this will come in handy (no pun intended) if I am to assist a surgeon.

SurgicalTechCST · Jan 30, 2016

She's absolutely right. As a CST with over 15 years experience in most services, I found that the very best circulators knew how to scrub as well. They are better able to put themselves in your shoes during a case, and could tell just from handling the organization of discarded lap sponges, for instance, when I would need another pack opened! Or even not opened for that matter. Closing sutures were always available, but not open in case the patient's needs made something else necessary; dressings were ready to be opened after the final count without thinking about it; or even what kinds of instrumentation might need to be added to a case if something happened to change the needs of the surgeon and the patient.

Not being able to scrub does NOT make anyone a bad circulator by any means, but that extra functionality surely made it easier for us both to "play ball" on a more level playing field!

Personally, I loved scrubbing so much that I was not one of several in my class who later pursued their RN, no matter how much money was involved, because I never wanted to be "optioned out" of that role and being made to circulate full time instead. I was extremely happy in my role, and thoroughly devastated when forced to leave it by increasing physical disabilities.

I have been totally disabled for three years, at leasaccording to the Social Security Disability department, but a good bit longer than that actually, because I took on other work for a few years after I had to "Stand Down" from the Mayo and Back Table permanently. Don't be too hard on yourself if scrubbing seems overwhelming for a while. Consider our position, when just to scrub, we go to school for two years, which includes several months of full time (4-4Â½ days a week, plus classes) clinicals in hospital OR. PLUS it takes a minimum of a good year working full time to start to feel comfortable in our role! I know it did me, and I graduated Magna cum Laude, Dean's List, and Phi Theta Kappa.

Every CST I've ever worked with or talked to has agreed that the first year or so is the minimum amount of time to get comfortable, and finally get that "Click!" one day that things are falling into place. So, that's a total of three years for us, doing it full time, and focusing on nothing else! So, be patient with yourself! And enjoy your new role in the OR, no matter what it is that you are doing. It truly is like no other service in the hospital, and it takes dedicated people who love their work to do it really well.

fauxpaus · Feb 14, 2016

I envy those of you who got the opportunity to learn to scrub and circulate. Firstly, my level 1 trauma center had a staffing issue and they pushed me right out into circulating....then when I tried to scrub, it turned out I couldn't stand in one place for more than a few minutes until I passed out (not a problem in normal life, just when standing there trying to scrub) so it didn't work out for me. I'm a circulator life now. But I'm the best darned circulator that I can be!