Question

Which of the following intraoperative nursing responsibilities would be performed by the scrub nurse (select all that apply)?

1) Documenting intraoperative care
2) Keeping track of irrigation solutions for monitoring of blood loss
3) Passing instruments and supplies to the surgeon by anticipating his or her needs
4) Coordinating the flow and activities of members of the surgical team in the surgical suite
5) Performing the count of sponges, needles, and instruments used during the surgical procedure

Answer 1

The scrub nurse is responsible for passing instruments to the surgeon, performing counts of sponges, needles, and instruments, and keeping track of irrigation solutions for monitoring blood loss during surgery.

Step-by-step explanation:

The responsibilities of a scrub nurse in the operating room include a variety of tasks that are vital to the safety and efficacy of surgical procedures. Among these responsibilities are:

• Passing instruments and supplies to the surgeon by anticipating his or her needs.
• Performing the count of sponges, needles, and instruments used during the surgical procedure to ensure that no foreign objects are left inside the patient.
• Keeping track of irrigation solutions to monitor blood loss during surgery.

While tasks like documenting intraoperative care and coordinating the flow and activities of members of the surgical team are typically handled by the circulating nurse rather than the scrub nurse, the scrub nurse plays a critical role in maintaining sterility and assisting the surgical team directly at the sterile field.