In the OR.. scrub nurses or OR Techs?

CIRQL8 · Mar 14, 2007

This is pretty much the way that things are going. I worked in an institution that did not allow RNs to scrub. Only one RN could scrub, and only for breaks, and only because she was a scrub tech there while going through nursing school.

The place that I am at now does allow RNs to train to scrub. There are only a couple left that are only scrubs (take scrub call, etc) - but as of 2008, this is supposed to end as well. Only the scrub tech will be a full time scrub. RNs will still be allowed to scrub as necessary (if trained), but will be discouraged.

And you are right - it is a budget (money) thing. Scrubs cost 1/2 to 3/4 (depending on longevity and pay scales) than does an RN.

At my institution, a scrub must have graduated from an accredited surgical technology program (or have previous scrub experience). Certification is preferred, but not required for the scrub.

From a nurses point of view - I like this. It may allow for more FTE's and possible a greated budget and more cost effectiveness. This is a must in this day and age of insurance and government reimbursement. I rely on my scrubs as much as on my nurse colleagues. They may be a wealth of information - especially the ones with experience.

jenni2 · Mar 14, 2007

Hey beachbum,

I'm currently a surgical tech pursuing a degree in nursing. My answer to your question would be it depends on the facility. The facility I work at allows Rn's to scrub as well as circulate.While doing clincals for surg tech I noticed it was up to each facility there are lots of facilitys in the dallas/ fortworth area where RN"s scrub, as a matter of fact some of my best preceptors while in school happened to be scrub nurses.

subee, MSN, CRNA · Mar 14, 2007

I am a nursing student and always thought I would want to be a scrub/surgical nurse. I did my rotation in the OR today and was surprised to find that RN's typically aren't scrubbing in anymore.. they are circulating nurses. They can hire anyone and train them and they are OR Techs and scrub in on surgeries. Is this typical, or just in my little town? The RN (circulating nurse) that I followed said that the majority of the circulating nurses would love to be scrubbing, but the hospital won't hire a RN to do it because they can hire a Tech and pay them half as much.
So I wondered if this is the case everywhere, or just because this hospital is a smaller community hospital, and not in a major metropolitan area. (I'm in a far south suburb of Chicago.. so I could feasibly go towards or into the city to work)

I

I used to work in a large urban academic center and they used scrub techs as well as in my community hospital now. Occasionally we use RN's to scrub but only because we have a harder time hiring techs than nurses on the day shift. You can hire a tech and that person can pretty much do the job from day one for less money.

CHATSDALE · Mar 14, 2007

i know of several lpns who have been certified by the local hospitals with on the job training traiing is usually one year and then you are committed to a certain about of obligated time..however there will always be rns needed in or keep up the good work

RN60453 · May 5, 2007

Hi

I am a new grad that just entered the OR and was told by one of my instructors that OR nurses are being phased out and much to my suprirse they are not anywhere close. Yes it's true that there are many RN's that do not get a chance to scrub due to cheaper labor of the surgical techs but the facility I work at many of the seasoned RN's still scrub and scrub training for any RN entering the OR is required. So I'd have to say that whether or not you scrub is dependent on the facility. I recently visited a facility that had no scrubbed RNs and only circulating....chances are I will not be working at that hospital. I hope you find what you are looking for :)

TazziRN, RN · May 5, 2007

At my facility the techs are more assistants to the nurses than to the docs. The RNs are involved with the care and treatment of the pt, and the techs do the scut work.

crissrn27, RN · May 5, 2007

Well, I only know about OB scrub.......all of our L and D nurses have to be able to scrub in c-sections. We do have a couple of great techs, but to actually assist with the c-sect you have to be a RN where I am. The tech will hand instruments, do the counts, etc. No hands on pt care.

VIXEN007 · May 5, 2007

In our OR and most of the ORs across the state, the scrubs are quite competent. The circulating nurse is there to chart and retrieve instruments and laps, etc. Some of the RNs are RNFAs-so they actually assist in the surgery. If you really want to scrub and be involved in the case, consider becoming an RNFA.

raihan · Oct 14, 2007

Hi
I am a new grad that just entered the OR and was told by one of my instructors that OR nurses are being phased out and much to my suprirse they are not anywhere close. Yes it's true that there are many RN's that do not get a chance to scrub due to cheaper labor of the surgical techs but the facility I work at many of the seasoned RN's still scrub and scrub training for any RN entering the OR is required. So I'd have to say that whether or not you scrub is dependent on the facility. I recently visited a facility that had no scrubbed RNs and only circulating....chances are I will not be working at that hospital. I hope you find what you are looking for :)

hi. thanks 4 discussion

ERGirl83 · Oct 15, 2007

My husband is an orthopaedic rep at several of the area hospitals here, and he states that at every hospital he works at, it's very rare to see an RN scrubbing. They almost exclusively circulate, unless they are also first assists.