How many RN's scrub?

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I was just wondering how many RN's are required to scrub as well as circulate. In my facility, RN's scrub and circulate. Some scrub more often than others. I see some nurses that scrub adn circulate 50/50 and some that don't scrub much at all if any. As a new periop I am required to do both.

Christine

Hi All,

WHAT THE???? In Australia, only nurses scrub. In the public system, only RN's scub, and in the private sector some enrolled nurses (I think they are like US practical nurses) but the only technicians I know of are Anaesthetic Techs, slowly taking over the Anaes. Nurse role. Please explain?

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Specializes in O.R., ED, M/S.

Ferret, here in the states we have Certified Surgical Techs that only scrub. They usually go through, correct me someone if I am wrong, 15-18 month program that teaches them all aspects of the scrub role. This position is more in use today than it was 25 years ago because the hospitals have found a cheap labor force to make up the shortage of OR RNs. Not to say they are not valuable, because they are. The hospital where I work the majority of the time has no Techs, all RN staff which scrubs and circulates(scout). The other hospital where I work uses alot of Techs. All of them are very knowledgable and very competent. The only real problem I have with Techs is they take away my scrub time! The hospital where I work the least, I am the one who scrubs out the techs for breaks and lunches because the majority of the other RNs DO NOT scrub. I know others will give you a better answer but this at least gets you in the right direction. Mike

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Hi all!!

I'm totally new at this...so hopefully I'm able to return to this thread..lol.

I am a Canadian RN in the OR, which I have been for under a year however I have been in the OR for 8 years as an RPN (LPN/US). From my understanding by reading these responses, techs would be the equivalent. During my years as an RPN in the OR my job mainly consisted of scrubbing. However now as an RN (but I am now in a Level-1 trauma center) in the OR I can honestly say my job role has really not changed I am expected to scrub and circulate (as we all are). How could you possibly have the knowledge of the surgical procedure and the anticapted needs as a circulating nurse if you've rarely scrubbed?

As an RPN I had precepted many RNs to the scrub role, as I also do now as an RN....Do the US OR Programs not have a pre-requesite of hours needed to scrub in order to obtain the Certificate?

Overall I'm wowed...what is OR nursing without scrubbing? I would love to learn more about OR nursing in the US in comparison to Canada. I had just successfully passed the NCLEX...but am totally perplexed on where to go. I have tons of questions....but i think I'll start a new thread.

Cheers

CDN

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I do both when needed. It all depends on the schedule.......nellie

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I do both; I think all OR nurses should; in fact, I will go so far as to say that I do not think you are doing your job if you can't or won't scrub--or, you are doing only one-half of it, and being unfair to your co-workers who must pick up the slack.

Check out this long-standing thread for a lively discussion of this subject:

What's up with RNs who refuse to scrub?

Shodobe? Check in, please---[/QUOT

I used to scrub. It became too expensive for the hospital, so they said.

I liked to circulate much better. I left the OR for a reason, it has been so long I forgot, I had a problem hearing. I also learned I was very dependent upon my eyes to hear. I needed to see people's lips. An anesthesiologist figured this out, I my back was turned, I did not realize he was calling me.

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Hello to everyone.

I am a scrub tech and I am about to begin an Accelerated BSN program this May out here in California. My intentions at this point are to get my BSN and then become an RNFA. This is just the plan for now for I have only been exposed to the OR on an L&D unit for the past 8 years. I was wondering if you have any suggestions for me as to whether my experience will be a plus or a hinderance in my pursuit of my FA diploma. After reading Baley's post, I am a little concerned. I am aware that after my nursing program I will be exposed to most major departments of nursing and that might change my mind as to what I will want to do once I am through with school. I just want to see what might be instore for me further down the road. Thank you for any input.

jemride

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Hello to everyone.

I am a scrub tech and I am about to begin an Accelerated BSN program this May out here in California. My intentions at this point are to get my BSN and then become an RNFA. This is just the plan for now for I have only been exposed to the OR on an L&D unit for the past 8 years. I was wondering if you have any suggestions for me as to whether my experience will be a plus or a hinderance in my pursuit of my FA diploma. After reading Baley's post, I am a little concerned. I am aware that after my nursing program I will be exposed to most major departments of nursing and that might change my mind as to what I will want to do once I am through with school. I just want to see what might be instore for me further down the road. Thank you for any input.

jemride

One great thing about changing your mind, you can change it back. As I look back at what I did and what I was going to do, I had planned to always be in the ER. I am older, we had rotating internships then a year of Med Surg, OR ER and (choice of peds or ICU). I spent my early years between OR and ICU, somehow I floated into Oncology and stayed for about 20 years. There new frontiers, but your education plan can stay the same, you don't really learn until after you pass your nursing Boards. Enjoy the adventure.

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WE are a small and up to date hospital. We run 2 rooms 3 days a week. So it depends on the staffing and experience. The new RN's that dont have scrub experience, we usually dont train them as it takes too long. But out of the 7 RN's we employee, 5 can and do scrub....nellie

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WE are a small and up to date hospital. We run 2 rooms 3 days a week. So it depends on the staffing and experience. The new RN's that dont have scrub experience, we usually dont train them as it takes too long. But out of the 7 RN's we employee, 5 can and do scrub....nellie

Where are you, Nellie? Do you mind pm'ing me with a little bit of info about your hospital, and whether your OR has travelers? I am looking for a fun travel assignment--sounds like your hospital would be cool. I would not mind helping to preceptor new RNs who want to learn to scrub--that's kind of fun.

Any good skiing where you are?

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I am in gunnison....great skiing. the best outdoor adventures all the time. We do use temps, but the last one is leaving in 3 weeks and then we have hired 2 new techs. so thabnks

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I'd rather scrub than circulate. And if I had my druthers, I'd rather circulate for a nurse who is scrubbing than for a tech. While there are a couple of good techs at my hospital most of them have a real attitude and are lazy, disappear between cases, don't pull the gloves or suture, and are quite high and mighty. Two nurses working together get the job done more quickly because they pull together, there are no lines between who does what, they both do whatever it takes. Just my .02.

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And P.s, Hooray For Those Rns Out There Who Do The Insts, Assist And Circulate, You Guys Are Great, They Sure Don't Make Them Like You Anymore!!!

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