The Scrub Nurse is responsible for maintaining a sterile surgical environment, preparing instruments and equipment, assisting surgeons during operative procedures, ensuring patient safety, and maintaining accurate counts of surgical items. The Scrub Nurse plays a critical role in preventing infections and ensuring smooth surgical workflow.
Key Responsibilities
Preoperative Responsibilities
- Prepare the operating room according to the scheduled procedure.
- Ensure all surgical instruments, implants, sutures, and consumables are available and sterile.
- Check the functionality of OT equipment (electrocautery, suction, drills, microscope, endoscopy equipment, etc.).
- Perform surgical hand scrub and maintain sterile technique throughout the procedure.
- Assist in positioning and draping the patient while maintaining sterility.
- Participate in the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist.
Intraoperative Responsibilities
- Anticipate the surgeon’s needs during surgery.
- Pass instruments, sutures, implants, and supplies efficiently.
- Maintain the sterile field at all times.
- Perform instrument, sponge, needle, and swab counts with the circulating nurse before incision, during cavity closure, and before wound closure.
- Handle surgical specimens correctly, ensuring proper labeling and documentation.
- Monitor sterility and immediately report any contamination.
- Assist in the use of specialized equipment such as:
- Microscope
- C-arm
- Arthroscopy equipment
- Laparoscopy systems
- Neurosurgical instruments
- Spine instrumentation
Postoperative Responsibilities
- Ensure final instrument and sponge counts are correct.
- Assist with wound dressing.
- Safely transfer instruments for decontamination and sterilization.
- Document implants and consumables used.
- Prepare the OT for the next procedure.
- Report equipment malfunction or missing instruments.
Infection Prevention & Safety
- Adhere to sterile techniques and infection control protocols.
- Follow biomedical waste segregation guidelines.
- Ensure proper use of PPE.
- Maintain aseptic handling of instruments.
- Report needle-stick injuries and other occupational hazards promptly.
Documentation
- Instrument count records.
- Implant documentation.
- Surgical specimen records.
- OT register entries.
- Incident reporting.
- Equipment checklist.
Skills Required
- Thorough knowledge of sterile techniques.
- Excellent understanding of surgical instruments.
- Knowledge of various surgical specialties.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Strong communication and teamwork.
- Good manual dexterity.
- Attention to detail.
- Time management.
Surgical Specialties
The Scrub Nurse should be competent in assisting surgeries including:
- Neurosurgery
- Spine Surgery
- General Surgery
- Orthopedics
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Urology
- ENT
- Plastic Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Oncosurgery
- Laparoscopic Surgery
Qualifications
- GNM / B.Sc. Nursing / Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing
- Valid State Nursing Council Registration
- OT Training or Certification (preferred)
Experience
- Freshers may be considered with OT training.
- Preferred: 1–3 years of OT experience.
- Senior Scrub Nurse: 3–5+ years of experience with specialty surgery exposure.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: ₹13,528.55 - ₹41,917.48 per month
Work Location: In person
