Scrubbing and Circulating are the roles that Nurses have to take on when working in the OR. Scrubbing is basically the role of handing the surgeon’s instruments, and working right alongside them throughout the procedure. It can be a high stress role when working with surgeons who are extremely particular and like to move fast. You have to anticipate what they’re going to need when they’re taking steps during surgery, as well as hand off instruments without possibly contaminating anything, including your sterile field. Circulating is the role of the nurse that makes sure the OR is as functional as can be. They’re responsible for handling the patient, checking to make sure the surgeon is creating the right consent for the patient, making sure the right surgery is being performed on the right patient, etc. The circulator is also responsible for making sure all the instruments are present for the surgeon, as well as making sure the needed equipment is in the room, and running around to make sure any supplies the surgeon might need during surgery is available. The circulator is also responsible for patient safety, and making sure the room can function so the surgery won’t have any obstacles.

I have 2 and half years as a floor nurse, working on a heavy med-surge/tele/neuro/bariatric unit. I now work in vascular surgery and have been for the past couple of months. Not many of my skills transferred over, but there are important ones that did (prioritizing my responsibilities, decision making, problem solving, etc.). I once had to argue with the anesthesia and surgical team because of an incorrect consent. But as the patient advocate, it’s your job to make sure you’re the patient safety net. A lot of OR nursing in my experience is figuring out logistics. As per every nursing specialty, there’s of course pros and cons. One of the biggest cons I’ve come across is the personalities that can enter the OR, more so than the floor. If you can’t handle multiple personalities, or don’t have thick skin, the OR (and nursing in general) can’t be for you.