staff nurse- OT

Job description

Role of Scrub Nurse   Purpose: • To maintain/ensure a sterile surgical field and cleanliness of environment • The scrub nurse and the circulator work together in co-ordination to accomplish the task necessary to achieve a common goal in OT • To promote safety and welfare of every patient • To assist the surgeon. • To assist the surgical team and scrub nurse  Prior to surgery: • Check surgeons’ preference and collect special equipment, sutures and instruments etc. accordingly • Performs scrubbing, gowning, gloving according to OT policies. • Drapes trolley and bowl stand with sterile pre pack set. • Checks along with the circulator the contents of each instrument set as per the enclosed list • Collects from circulator sutures, needles, blades and necessary sterile equipment • Checks swabs, packs, instruments and needles with circulator • Ensure that the findings are chartered and displayed on the count record sheet • Drapes mayo table and prepare initially required instruments. • Confirms the circulator for identity of correct patient, with ID band, indoor paper and OT list • Ensure that patient is positioned safely • Prepare mayo table with following items; - scalp, dissecting scissor small artery forceps, toothed and non-toothed dissecting forceps, diathermy cord with pencil.  At the commencement of the surgery: • Assists for skin preparation by providing sponges on sponge holder to surgeon • Assists in applying drapes • Passes towel clips to the surgeon • Position the mayo table • Hands over diathermy cord and suction tubing’s to circulator or OT attendant for the attachment and checks diathermy setting with surgeon  During surgery: • Hands over sponges to the surgeon and assistant surgeon • Passes instruments sponge’s sutures as needed, and replace instruments on mayo table from the trolley as operation proceeds. • Keeps accurate count of extra sponges, needles OR instruments collected during the operation. • Anticipates the needs of the surgeon by continuous observation of progress of operation. • Ensure that the noise & movement in the theater is kept to a minimum • Ensure that a sterile field is maintained throughout the surgery. • Before the surgeon closes the cavity, the scrub nurse check sponges, instruments, and needles in accordance with theater policy, informs finding to be surgeon. • Checked with the circulator for availability of appropriate wound dressing. Collects dressing from the circulator & hands it over to surgeon. • Hands over specimen to the circulator if needed. • Removes instrument from mayo trolley. • Removes blade from the handles & disposes of sharp container. • Removes drapes from patient. • Ensure that the area around the dressing is clean & dry & clothes the patient After surgery: • Cover the patient with clean sheet. • Removes scrub nurse gown & gloves. • As & when permitted by the anesthetist, shift patient from OT table to trolley. • Accompanies the patient to recovery room & gives all relevant information to the recovery nurse. • Completes entry in the case register, charge sheet. • Informs the concerned ward nursing staff • Check the instruments & other equipment.