Circulating Registered Nurse

Description Summary

The circulating nurse is responsible for patient safety and nursing care of the patient while being transferred to and from the operating room and while in the operating suite.

• 1.
• Utilizes specialized nursing knowledge and discriminative judgement while administering direct or indirect patient care.
• 2.
• Visits the patient prior to surgery to alleviate their fears and to perform a nursing assessment of potential patient problems.
• 3.
• Assists in the proper care and treatment of instruments and supplies including sterilization and storage where appropriate.
• Wrapping equipment for sterilizing and running the sterilizer 4.
• Assists in carrying out safe aseptic techniques and procedures as adopted by the department and aided by their knowledge of basic science.
• 5.
• Cleaning and stocking the operating rooms at the end of the day.
• 6.
• Knowing where all supplies are kept in the OR area and the storage area.
• 7.
• Putting away laundry and supplies 8.
• Assists in preparing the operating room for each case in the room.
• 9.
• Knowledge of setting up instrument trays.
• 10.
• Assists anesthesia personnel with the intubation/extubating of patients, the administration of anesthetic blocks, and the thermo-regulation of the patient.
• 11.
• Assumes the responsibility for the intraoperative patient safety related to positioning activities, the use of equipment, and the use of chemicals and solutions.
• 12.
• All other assigned duties as needed.

Additional Responsibilities

1. Checks room for needed supplies and prepares room for specific patient and procedure. 2. Transports patient to the operating room and checks the patient’s record for appropriate pre-operative preparation and procedure (i.e. EKG, consents, medication lists, and medical history) 3. Responsible for operating room records, implant cards, and patient chart 4. Responsible for appropriate surgical preparation. (i.e. EKG monitors, BP cuffs, O2 Stat, and prep) 5. Knowledge of and assistance with the proper safe positioning of the patient 6. Responsible for the sponge, needle and instrument count and documentation 7. Receives and documents all physicians’ orders. 8. Obtains and records all medication administered during surgery. 9. Inform the Clinical Nurse Manager what medications are needed. 10. Inform the Clinical Nurse Manager of what supplies are needed each week. 11. Secures and checks the emergency equipment and supplies monthly and as needed. 12. Provides assistance to physicians and anesthesia personnel as needed. 13. Controls the general “tone” of the operating room. 14. Sets up the operating room with necessary equipment and packs. 15. Responsible with the anesthesia personnel for narcotic counts. 16. Works as a member of the surgical team efficiently during the procedure.