What are the tasks of scrub nurse before operation?

Answer 1

The scrub person pulls all the sterile instruments and necessities (drapes, gowns, dressings, etc.) for the case. They coordinate with the circulating nurse to make sure they have surgeon specific requests covered (this may not occur if the surgeon's preference cards are incorrect). Generally, they open the sterile supplies before the patient comes into the room (at some hospitals the supplies are opened after the patient is in the room). They inspect the integrity of each package to ensure there are no rips or tears or watermarks present. If the integrity is compromised, those supplies are removed from the room and replaced with supplies that have intact packages. The back table is draped and all sterile supplies are opened. The scrub person then puts on eye protection, scrubs in, gowns and gloves themselves and begins setting up the sterile field. All unsterile tables are draped. The tables are then organized. Instruments are organized in such a fashion as to be able to get to them in the most efficient manner. Also, they are organized to facilitate counting them (counting instruments does not happen on all cases). Blades are put on knife handles. Basins, syringes, etc. are labeled properly. The mayo stand is set up with everything the surgeons need to get the case going once they are scrubbed in. This can include a Bovie pen and container, suction, light gloves, scratch pad, plastic towel clips, drapes and towels. This can also include opening instruments such as a knife, hemostats, etc. as appropriate for the specific surgery. The scrub person also hands towels over to the surgeons so they can dry their hands after scrubbing. The scrub person then gowns and gloves the surgeons. They assist with draping the patient and facilitate setting up. The scrub person does not hand over any local injection medication or a knife until the surgical "pause" or "time-out" is completed. At all times, the entire team is responsible for keeping the sterile field sterile.