relusk

The purpose of orientating a RN to the scrub role is multifaceted, and none of it has to do with the Surgical Technologist. First in order to understand and function in a proactive vs. reactive role the RN must have a working knowledge of the principles of surgery. The circulator should be able to stand away from the field and understand what is going on during the case and anticipate the changing needs of the rest of the team. These principles are well-developed in theories of adult learning and organizational development. If surgery were scripted and never varied then the process would be well defined, but the surgical process has many variables, therefore only staff which has experienced many surgeries can be agile enough to make lemonade from lemons. Another reason to have the RN able to scrub is purely a staffing issue. If all the staff in an OR are single role personnel, then the staffing becomes more complex. On the other hand, if a Surg Tech can scrub and first assist; and the RN can circulate, scrub and first assist the narrow avenues we put ourselves in become much wider and like constrictive. By the way I am a CNOR, can scrub, circulate and first assist. BL

Please see AORN Recommended Practices for Skin Preparation of Patients: Recommended Practice V. "1. When preparing the skin for a surgical procedure, special considerations should include - Preparing areas of high microbial counts (eg. umbilicus, pubis , open wounds) within the prepared areas last:" BL