A duty nurse, also known as a surgical technologist, prepares and maintains a sterile operating environment for medical procedures. They assist surgeons and other healthcare professionals, sterilize tools, and ensure all equipment is accounted for. They work in hospitals or private practices, and their training usually begins with nursing school. They are often joined by circulating nurses and shift nurses in the operating room. The job is secure with potential for advancement.
A duty nurse, also called a surgical technologist or “surgical technologist,” is a medical professional who prepares and maintains a sterile operating environment for medical procedures. Nurses prepare the operating room and provide sterile tools and equipment for use during procedures.
Additionally, the operating room nurse assists surgeons and other healthcare professionals in the operating room. These nurses “scrutinize” themselves at each surgery, which is where they get their name from. Scrubbing usually involves washing hands and arms thoroughly with an antibacterial soap, then putting on a sterile mask, hat, gown, and gloves so patients don’t become contaminated. Nurses working in this environment are often responsible for handing surgeons the necessary tools and instruments during the procedure and for conducting official instrument counts at the end of the procedure.
Specific role in the operating room
Duty nurses usually work as part of a perioperative nursing team and play a very important role in most surgeries. They are often described as the surgeon’s main assistant. They are responsible for arranging all necessary equipment – scalpels, saws, and suction tools, to name a few – and handing them over to the surgeon when called.
The nurse is also responsible for ensuring that all necessary equipment is in the room before surgery begins. He or she is typically responsible for sterilizing tools and making sure they are clean. At the end of the procedure, it is the duty nurse’s job to ensure that all equipment is accounted for.
Knowledge required
A registered nurse is certified by a technical school and has completed an external program before starting her career. Duty nurses are expected to have general knowledge of the medical procedures in which they operate, but generally obtain this through clinical experience. They practice under a supervising nurse who will guide them as they gain experience. As with all healthcare professionals, nurses will continue to learn and keep abreast of the latest trends, tools and techniques relevant to their work.
Difference between hospital work and private practice
Most nurses work on a rotational basis in a hospital. Some work in private practice, however, usually in partnership with a specific private surgeon. For some procedures, particularly voluntary ones, patients will hire specialists and surgeons who are independent of the normal hospital staff. Many of these surgeons employ their own teams of nurses who accompany and assist them in all procedures.
Both hospital and private practice nurses perform most of their job duties in a hospital setting, which can make the distinction somewhat arbitrary when it comes to day-to-day activities. The main difference is how they are paid and where their head office is located.
Essential training
Training to become a nurse usually begins with nursing school, often at the graduate level—the vast majority of practitioners are registered nurses, or RNs, typically requiring a master’s degree. Depending on the jurisdiction, nurses may also need to pass certification or licensing exams before they can work in an operating room. Sometimes these are one-time tests, but many are credentials that need to be renewed every few years.
Job security
There is usually a pretty constant demand for nurses which means the job is relatively secure. The work is often grueling, as many surgeries are long, intense and occur at all hours of the day and night. In most places, however, the pay is fairly competitive and the potential for advancement is usually strong.
Related nursing roles
Duty nurses are often joined in the operating room by other perioperative assistants known as “circulating nurses”. These professionals typically monitor the periphery of the operating room, making sure it remains sterile and safe during the procedure. Shift nurses are also usually responsible for preparing patients for surgery and are often nearby when patients eventually wake up in recovery.
Circulators may also be in charge of communicating with patient family members during surgery and recovery periods. A nurse is usually too busy with the logistics of the procedure to handle these kinds of details.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
