Foundation University

COLLEGE OF NURSING
Dumaguete City

I. Introduction

Members of the Health Care Team in Operating Room in Their Roles

Surgical team

The surgical team is a unit providing the continuum of care beginning with preoperative and
extending through perioperative (during the surgery) procedures, and postoperative recovery.
Each specialist on the team, whether surgeon, anesthesiologist or nurse, has advanced training
for his or her role before, during, and after surgery.

Through a team effort, the patient is treated and monitored as he or she undergoes significant
acts of bodily invasion and pain control that make up the surgical experience. These surgical acts
are true for the most benign and superficial operations, as well as the most intense.

I. The Members of the Health Care Team in Operating Room

 Anesthesiologist
 Circulating Nurse
 OR Aide
 Surgeon
 Scrub Nurse
 Sponge Nurse
 Instrument Nurse

II. The Members of the Health Care Team in Operating Room and Their Roles

ANESTHESIOLOGIST- Anesthesiologists are physicians with at least four years of advanced

training in anesthesia. They may attain further specialization in surgical procedures, such
as neurosurgery or pediatric surgery . They are directly or indirectly involved in all three stages
of surgery (preoperative, operative, and postoperative) due to their focus on pain management
and patient safety.
CIRCULATING NURSE - Becoming a circulating nurse begins by earning a registered nursing
degree. A circulating nurse is an important part of the surgical team in an operating room. In
addition to preparing the operating room, he checks the stock of supplies and instruments.
Problem-solving is a regular duty of a circulating nurse. Equipment must be checked and double-
checked. The circulating nurse interacts with the patient before surgery and serves as a patient
protector during surgery.
OR AIDE- also known as surgical room technicians, surgical technologists, or "scrubs" are
medical professionals who assist doctors and surgeons in operating rooms during surgical
procedures and operations.
Operating room aides must have vast and intimate knowledge of surgical tools and procedures,
and their duties often revolve around assembling, inspecting, and maintaining surgical tools and
instruments. They also help prepare patients for surgery and ensure that that the surgical room is
sterile, clean, and adheres to standard medical room codes. Most operating room aides are detail-
oriented and able to balance multiple tasks simultaneously, and excellent verbal and written skills
are also important in this position.

SURGEON- A surgeon serves as the director of an operating theater. Lasting for 30 minutes, or
as many as 12 hours, surgery is used to diagnose and treat a variety of medical issues. Surgeons
are physicians that have specialized education and experience, ranging from general surgical needs
to Cardiothoracic issues. Surgeons direct and manage all staff in the operating room, and
ultimately, are responsible for the outcome of the patient. Depending on the specialty, it can take
as many as 18 years of schooling and education to become a surgeon.

SCRUB NURSE- OR SPONGE NURSE- also called perioperative nurses, are registered nurses
who assist in surgical procedures by setting up the room before the operation, working with the
doctor during surgery and preparing the patient for the move to the recovery room. Scrub nurses
work in various clinical settings, including hospital surgical departments, private physicians’
offices, clinics and ambulatory or “day surgery” centers.

INSTRUMENT NURSE- The instrument nurse is primarily responsible for all supplies used
within the surgical theatre with the goal of anticipating the needs of the surgical team. They ensure
that all needed surgical supplies and instruments are sterile and functional. They remain vigilant
throughout the surgical procedure in order to recognize the patient’s changing condition or intra-
surgical complications and responding appropriately.

III. The Duties and Responsibilities of the Members of the Health Care Team in
Operating Room
ANESTHESIOLOGIST
 anesthesiologists review the patient's medical history to determine any issues that might
be encountered during the procedure.
 anesthesiologists decide on the best method to sedate the patient.
 the anesthesiologist administers the anesthetic in one of three forms -- a regional
anesthetic, which numbs a specific portion of the body; a local, which blocks sensations
in a smaller area; or a general anesthetic, which renders the patient unconscious.
 Anesthesiologists have the primary responsibility for monitoring the patient's vital signs
during surgery.
 During some procedures, the anesthesiologist must also monitor the volume of blood
being pumped by the heart, nerve functions or the blood pressure inside the patient's
lungs.
 Anesthesiologists also ensure that patients remain in the proper position, such as keeping
the patient's head aligned during neck surgery.

CIRCULATING NURSE

 Patient Safety – every patient deserves a trained, skilled and knowledgeable RN in the
surgery room, assuming the role as patient advocate – the primary spokesperson of the
patient
 Informed Monitoring – the circulating nurse serves the welfare of the patient including
the team’s success by assuming the role of an active observer, carefully watching any
unintended or unanticipated event that could compromise the patient.
 Critical thinking –as the patient’s guardian in the operating room, it is the nurse
circulator’s job to perform an accurate recording, interpretation and response to the
stream of data that is present during the course of operation
 Interpersonal communication skills –possessing a mix of proficiency, perception, and
professionalism, these components defines a circulating nurse’s ability to interact and
collaborate with all members of the team, which results to high quality level of care
provided to the patient.
 Expert evaluation –a circulating nurse is trained to perform accurate decision-making and
perception, allowing not only sound assessment of the patient’s condition but also
capable in planning, implementing, and evaluating patient care.
 The circulating nurse acts a runner and helps out wherever needed.
 This is the person who walks around the perimeter of the room and is the monitor of
everything going on,
 They’re the helper for anesthesia, the help for the scrub person.
 They answer phones and beepers and bring you supplies.
 If you drop something, they pick it up and re-sterilize it and bring it back.
OR AIDE

 Change bed linens, wash and iron patients' laundry, and clean patients' quarters.
 Entertain, converse with, or read aloud to patients to keep them mentally healthy and
alert.
 Direct patients in simple prescribed exercises or in the use of braces or artificial limbs.
 Check patients' pulse, temperature and respiration.
 Provide patients with help moving in and out of beds, baths, wheelchairs or automobiles,
and with dressing and grooming.

SURGEON
 Analyze patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and
examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure.

 Prescribe preoperative and postoperative treatments and procedures, such as sedatives,

diets, antibiotics, and preparation and treatment of the patient's operative area.
 Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents and other
medical staff.

 Examine patient to provide information on medical condition and surgical risk.

 Follow established surgical techniques during the operation.

 Operate on patients to correct deformities, repair injuries, prevent and treat diseases, or
improve or restore patients' functions.

 Refer patient to medical specialist or other practitioners when necessary.

 Conduct research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating
procedures and outcomes.

 Examine instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.

 Manage surgery services, including planning, scheduling and coordination,

determination of procedures, and procurement of supplies and equipment.

 Prepare case histories.

SCRUB NURSE/SPONGE NURSE or INSTRUMENT NURSE

 Surgical nurses care for patients before, during and after surgery.
 Scrub nurses literally scrub their hands and arms with surgical soap and don a surgical
gown and gloves.
 They anticipate the surgeon’s needs, selecting and passing instruments and supplies.
 He ensures the operating room is clean and ready to be set up, then prepares the
instruments and equipment needed for the surgery.
 Scrub nurse counts all sponges, instruments, needles and other tools and preserves the
sterile environment by “scrubbing in,” which requires washing his hands with special
soaps and putting on sterile garments, including a gown, gloves and face mask. When the
surgeon arrives, the nurse helps her with her gown and gloves before preparing the
patient for surgery.
 During the operation, one of the scrub nurse’s primary duties is selecting and passing
instruments to the surgeon.
 The scrub nurse’s role here is supporting the surgeon while also maintaining patient
safety.
 The nurse must know which instruments are used for specific procedures and when they
are needed, so she can quickly hand them to the surgeon.
 The scrub nurse must also watch for hand signals to know when the surgeon is ready for
the next tool or when he is done using a tool and is ready to hand it back to the scrub
nurse, who cleans the tools after use and places each tool back in its place on the table.
She also monitors the surgery to ensure everything remains sterile.
 IV. The Other Responsibilities of the operating Room Nurse

 Provide efficient and effective perioperative nursing care to patient.

 Maintain surgical services in accordance with competency standards.
 Complete all physician orders, administer medications, and conduct treatments and tests
for patients in a timely manner.
 Assist with patient care in recovery room, procedure room and operating room.
 Develop and implement nursing care plan for assigned patient.
 Execute proper use, care and handling of surgical equipment to ensure safety of operating
staff and patient.
 Maintain current and in-depth knowledge of sterile techniques.
 Communicate continuously with operating team and other medical staff to meet needs for
patient care.
 Assist in ordering, storing and maintaining surgical equipment and supplies.
 Prepare operating room with surgical equipment, sterile, linens and supplies that will be
needed during surgery.
 Maintain order and cleanliness in operating room.
 Prepare patients including cleaning and disinfecting body areas for surgery.
 Prepare timely and accurate records of patient history and recovery charts.

Prepared By: Ailyne A. Cleofe

Level-IV- Rabie