Operating Room Nurses Face Challenges and Shifting Responsibilities

Operating room nurses can have one of three distinct jobs: scrub nurse, circulator, or first assist. Each nurse has different responsibilities, but it takes all nurses working together to get the job done.

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Scrub nurses prepare the instruments and the sterile field. They get the patient into position and hand instruments to the surgeon as the case progresses. Circulating nurses make sure all paperwork is accounted for and that supplies are on hand. They perform instrument counts and ensure the correct surgery is performed. Nurse first assistants have responsibilities that vary depending on the surgeon. They range from administering medications to inserting sutures.

* indicates fast starts; $$ indicates higher than average pay in this specialty.


compact state Indicates a Nursing Licensure Compact state. Multi-state license accepted.