OR duties question

RNs may function in the role of an assistant (not first assistant, that's a different category requiring additional training/education) where they hold retractors and suction as directed. This may vary by facility policy. As a nurse who scrubs as the second assistant in heart surgery, I may place and hold a retractor if I am working with a surgeon who permits that rather than placing the retractor himself and waiting for me to take it to hold. I may also suction as needed to keep his field of view clear so he can see where he is working. Surgical techs may also fill this role. Depending on facility policy/state's scope of practice, they may or may not be permitted to suture (I have yet to take my suturing course, so I cannot do so yet) or other duties.

RNFAs (registered nurse first assistants) are a specially trained subset of nurses in the OR. They may or may not be advanced practice nurses. More info about RNFAs here: First Assisting (RNFA) : Association of periOperative Registered Nurses

Thank you. I've always been curious about surgery and found it an exciting area. I would want to be as involved as possible if I did decide on this path after nursing school.

Keep in mind that some facilities do not utilize the RN in the scrub role. My facility, as well as one of the competing hospitals, is almost exclusively nurses circulate and surgical techs scrub, with only a few exceptions (RNFAs and open heart nurses; occasionally an RN who is a former ST will scrub if too many call offs). If you want to work in the OR and have the option to learn to scrub, make sure you look for facilities that make that possible.

I applied for an on-call position as a surgery aide, and would be doing patient transfers, holding limbs/cameras, and helping assist in prep. I'm not sure yet how the hospital utilizes RNs in the OR. Thanks. I will have to check.