DUTIES OF THE CIRCULATING NURSE

CN must assist the sterile SN by providing the sterile supplies needed

A. After Scrub person/Nurse Scrubs 

     1. Fasten back of scrub persons gown.
     2. Open packages of sterile supplies like syringes, sutures, sponges gloves if a sterile package
         wrapped in porous material drops to the floor, DISCARD it. It can no longer be considered
         sterile. 
     3. Flip suture packets onto the instrument table or open overwraps for scrub person to take
         packets 
     4. Pour NSS into the round basin for sponges on instrument table 
     5. Count sponges, needles and instruments with the scrub nurse and record immediately 

B. After the patient arrives 

CN attends to the patient 
     1. Greets and identify patient. Check wristband 
     2. Heck NCP and patients chart for pertinent information including CONSENT 
     3. Be sure patients hair is covered with cap 
     4. Assist the patient in moving from the stretcher to the OR table. 
     5. Apply restraint straps over legs and arms. Keep patient covered with blanket for privacy and
         provide warmth. 
          a. Patients legs should not be crossed 
          b. Put arm board on L or R arm if IV is to be infused 
           6. Help anesthesiologist, surgeon or assistant as needed

C. During induction of General Anesthesia

     1. Stay in the room and near patient to provide comfort and assist anesthesiologist in the
        event that the patient gets excited. Patient must be guarded during induction to prevent
        possible injury or fall from OR table 
     2. Be quiet as much as possible 
    • excitement may occur during induction from tactile or auditory stimulation
     D. After the patient is Anesthetized 

          1. Reposition patient only after the anesthesiologist say so 
          2. Attach anesthesia screen and other table attachments 
          3. Note patient’s position. All safety measures must be observed 
          4. If cautery is to be used, place inactive dispersive electrode plate in contact with patient’s
              skin to ground the patient properly. Avoid scar tissues, hairy or bony areas. 
          5. Expose appropriate area for skin prep 
          6. Turn overhead spotlight over site of incision 
          7. Arrange sterile prep 
          8. Cover the prep tray immediately after use
  
E. After Surgeon and Assistant scrub

     1. Be alert to anticipate needs of sterile team
    • CN watches closely the operation and anticipate the needs without having the team ask for them
    • Should know where all supplies are to facilitate time and get them quickly 
           2. Stay in the room. Inform SN if you must leave 
     3. Keep discarded sponges carefully collected, separated by sizes and counted. Sponges
         forceps or gloves never bare hands are used to handle and count sponges 
     4. Assist in monitoring blood loss. Weigh sponges if requested by surgeon. Measure blood
         volume from suction container 
     5. Obtain blood products for transfusion. 
     6. Know the condition of the patient at all times 
     7. Prepare and label specimens for transportation to lab 
     8. Complete the patient chart, permanent operating room records, and requisition for lab test,
         etc. 
     9. Be alert to any break in sterile technique 

F. During Closure 

     1. Count sponges, sharps and instruments with scrub nurse
    • report counts as correct or incorrect to surgeon
    • complete count records
          2. If another patient is scheduled to follow: 
               a. CN should call the ward for the next patient at least 45 min before the scheduled time of
                   operation to request that pre-op medication be given 
               b. Ask transport aide to get patient from the ward 30 min before OR

G. After the operation is completed 

     1. Open neck and back closures of gowns of surgeons and assistants so they can remove
         them without contaminating themselves  
     2. Assist with dressing. SN should roll drapes off patient before outer layer of dressing is
         applied 
     3. Connect all drainage system as indicated 
     4. See to it that the client is clean – wash off blood, feces. Put on a clean gown and blanket 
     5. Have transport aide bring a clean RR stretcher 
     6. Help move patient to stretcher or bed. Place pt to stretcher with a 4 man carry 
     7. Be sure chart and proper records including NCP accompany patient 
     8. Final completion of the client chart should include documentation of: 
          a. assessment of patients skin condition prior to and at completion of operation
              i.e. skin discoloration, rashes, pressure sores, burns
          b. urine output and blood loss – I and O
          c. type of dressing used
          d. time patient was discharged from OR 
     9. Have nursing assistant help transport pt to RR
  
SCRUBBING, GOWNING and GLOVING

     1. Washes hands, forearms and upper arms 
     2. Picks up brush and forceps 
     3. Rinses brush 
     4. Gets soap solution 
     5. Scrubs hand for 1 ½ minutes starting from fingertips 
     6. Scrubs forearms for 1 minute 
     7. Scrub upper arms for ½ minutes 
     8. Scrub other hands, forearms and arm for the prescribed time 
     9. Rinses brush hands, forearms and upper arms 
     10. Repeats scrubbing
           Hands – 1 minute each
           Forearms – ½ minute each 
     11. Rinses brush, hands and forearms 
     12. Repeat scrubbing
           Hands – ½ minute each 
     13. Discards brush 
     14. Rinses hands 
     15. Keeps hands higher than the arms through steps 5-15 
     16. Dries hands and arms on hem and gown 
     17. Lets hem face below table level 
     18. Grasps gown at armhole 
     19. Puts arms through sleeves of gown 
     20. Allows assistant to tie laces at the back; bends sideward allow assistant to grasp belt of
           gown
     21. Opens packages of glove, transfers powder to the hand, and discard paper package of
           powder 
     22. Powders hands seeing to it that the powder does not fall on gloves 
     23. Grasps one glove by the cuff and puts glove on 
     24. Inserts gloved fingers into the cuff of the other glove; puts on the other glove 
     25. Folds sleeve of gown to fit wrist and unfolds cuff of glove over sleeve 
     26. Repeats step 25 with the other sleeve 
     27. Inserts gloved hands into pouch of gown 
     28. Maintain asepsis throughout gloving and gowning 
          a. keeps hands above table level 
          b. does not turn back towards sterile field

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