How many RN's scrub?

carcha · Sep 30, 2004

only when RNs stop being so politically correct and stand up for their rights as professionals and for the rights of the patients to be cared for by a registered nurse at all times will this whole mess be sorted out. Until then we have to endure the droning on and on of those who cant be bothered to endure the training and exams and responsibilities which we have undertaken but who truly believe that their "watered down" positions are as good as the real thing. I find it truly sad really.

shodobe · Oct 1, 2004

I think carcha and Ferret have hit it on the head. My opinion has always been that there is no place in the OR for techs, but we have to endure them because of tight-budgeted administrators who have no clue on what it takes to properly care for the surgical patient. I am lucky in a sense that I have worked with a number of very talented techs who I have the utmost confidence in. The one difference with them and "onebadort" is they know who is the responsible person in charge of the room, THE RN! Attitudes have no place in the OR and everyone should just perform their job to best of their ability but, everyone should know their place in the chain of command.You will also noticed that it is the techs who have an identity problem and the LPNs that have gone into the OR have the knowledge of patient care because most of them have been in the trenches and can relate to what the RN has to go through. I am sure, Ferret, that he won't go away that easily, also welcome back! Mike

Ethel · Oct 6, 2004

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

In our hospital only RN's scrub but in the eye theatre we have one enrolled nurse (staff nurse) that scrubs. In South Africa the majority of personel that scrub are RN's.

TracyB,RN, RN · Oct 9, 2004

I can't wait to scrub!!!!

A few years ago, I took a position in an OR that was training RN's with no surgical experience. It was a horrible place to be, not the OR, the hospital in general... I LOVED being in the OR & loved what I was learning. But had to get out because of the horrible people I worked with. Fast forward 2 years later, me kicking myself in the butt on a daily basis for not sticking it out! I got an opportunity to get back in the OR in a different hospital & jumped on it in a heartbeat. It has now been 4 weeks, & I am remembering alot of what I previously learned & am actually enjoying going to work. I really did miss the OR & am now bummed that I am basically starting over with the OR. The training is a bit different as now I will circulate for 3 months before I get to scrub anything. Every case is different. I can go from ortho to vascular to general & back again. The previous facility kept you in one service for 4 weeks at a time so I had frequently had the chance to scrub & circulate the same kind of case, ex: morning circulate for T & A, then afternoon scrub T & A.

But, anyway... like I said, I can't WAIT to scrub & I think every nurse that works in the OR should be able to competently do both.

Ferret · Oct 20, 2004

I can't wait to scrub!!!!
Every case is different. I can go from ortho to vascular to general & back again. The previous facility kept you in one service for 4 weeks at a time so I had frequently had the chance to scrub & circulate the same kind of case, ex: morning circulate for T & A, then afternoon scrub T & A.

It makes it really hard when you're always being shifted around. When I started in theatres, I was an Enrolled nurse (like a LPN) and pure scout(circulator) things are a bit different here... however, I asked to stay in one area and they agreed, allowing me to learn that area thoroughly and thus easier to learn other areas, once I understood the nature of the work.

I guess what I'm trying to suggest is asking to stick to one specilality for a while so you can learn it. Even managers should understand the benefits of that. My managers were surprised that I asked in the first place, but came back to me a few months down the track and said that they had really appreciated me staying in the one area, as they knew they could rely on me in that area faster than they had expected.

Have fun!

Ferret 8^)

Ps. Hi, Mike! Thanks for the welcome.

shodobe · Oct 21, 2004

In large hospitals with many ORs, that is a very good idea. I always thought if I worked in an OR with many specialties I would request to stay in one specialty until I got very comfortable and then maybe move into other areas. This gives you more confidence, so when you do move on the new experience is a lot easier. Mike

PS, Ferret,, notice our PIA(pain in the a**) went away!

Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN · Oct 24, 2004

And the rest?

If you'd pay attention to what goes on in the room at all times, you'd know the answer to this question without having to ask

Anyway, i'm through attempting to discuss anything with you, because you've proven for a second time that you're just trying to "get" to people and frankly, life's too short. Bye.

jenni2 · Oct 24, 2004

Hello everyone,

I'm currently attending school to be a certified surgical technologist. I have a associate in arts degree, and may eventually pursue a B.S.N. I agree that all individuals in the OR should undergo some sort of formal schooling, by hiring tech's right off the street it makes the whole surgical tech profession look bad and subjects some of the most competent techs to a predetermined bias that only RN's should scrub.

I'm currently in the first half of my clinical, during this time all we are doing is circulating with RN's. In Texas only RN's can circulate i'm not sure how it is in the rest of the country, but being taught some aspects of circulating such as prepping, inserting catheters, assisting with positioning, and hooking up various equipment will allow us to better assist the RN should we be needed. Circulating also allows us to be more knowledgeable of the RN's role, and I would hope gain a better understanding and respect for each other.

Ferret · Oct 25, 2004

Hello everyone,
Circulating also allows us to be more knowledgeable of the RN's role, and I would hope gain a better understanding and respect for each other.

It's such co-operation among teams that make the OR work. A few bad apples cause a lot of problems. I think that the time you're doing the tech course would be better off doing a nursing course, but each to their own. We have no Scrub Techs here, and our Scrub RN, not the circulator, is in charge of the OR, so I have difficulty working out how you do things over there at times.

But keep up the good work, we need to hear from those who are trying to be part of a team and get along, rather than those who are just being bad apples....

Do you think the PIA got my hint?

Have fun Y'all!

Ferret 8^)