Roles of a Scrub Nurse
- A scrub nurse is trained to provide nursing services to surgical patients. Before the operation, scrub nurses make sure the operating room is sterile. During the surgical procedure, the scrub nurse directly assists the attending surgeon by selecting and handing over the required surgical instruments and supplies. A scrub nurse is also responsible for monitoring the patient's vital signs. These nurses then monitor the patient's emotional and physical well-being after the operation. Nursing duties typically include changing wound dressings, watching for signs of shock and changing any surgical drains.
- Although some scrub nurses hold an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN), a majority of these professionals are registered nurses (RNs) who hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). RN educational programs typically include classroom instruction, required labs and supervised clinical experience. Aspiring scrub nurses should attend perioperative nursing courses that focus on the specific duties and roles of a scrub nurse. These courses typically cover the principles of sterilization, the use of surgical instruments, care of the surgical patient, surgical pharmacology and anesthetic agents.
- Aspiring scrub nurses must first pass the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN; see Resources section) to obtain their state registered nursing licenses. A majority of scrub nurses also seek the credential of Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR). The certification exam is administered by the Competency and Credentialing Institute (CCI) and requires at least 2 years and 2,400 hours of practical experience as a perioperative nurse (see Resources section). As of 2010, the CNOR certification must be renewed every 5 years. Renewal requires working at least 500 hours in perioperative nursing.
- Scrub nurses must be able to physically and emotionally handle working in fast-paced, high-stress environments. They must also have the ability to make quick decisions in life-or-death scenarios. A scrub nurse must possess excellent communication skills and be able to interact well with patients, their families and medical personnel. Scrub nurses must also have the physical strength and stamina necessary to position surgical patients and transport the surgical equipment and supplies. Surgeries can last for hours, so a scrub nurse must be able to stand for long periods.
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the job growth for registered nurses in general to be much quicker than average. This expected growth will be driven by an aging population who will need more medical care, a growing emphasis on preventative health care and technological advances in medicine. However, this growth is expected to be lowest in hospitals, which is where a majority of scrub nurses work.
