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I still remember my first day stepping into the OR as a student nurse. The air was chilly, the lights felt almost too bright, and everyone moved with calm precision. Honestly? My heart was racing so fast I thought everyone could hear it!
That was the moment I knew I wanted to become a scrub nurse.
At first, I thought scrub nurses just handed tools to the surgeon. But after some time in the OR, I learned it’s so much more than that. Scrub nurses are the quiet guardians of the operating room. We protect patients, keep the sterile field safe, and stay five steps ahead to make sure nothing goes wrong.
What Does a Scrub Nurse Really Do?
A scrub nurse (also called a perioperative nurse) is a registered nurse who works right inside the sterile field during surgery.
We:
- Handle sterile instruments
- Anticipate the surgeon’s needs
- Keep infection risks as low as possible
It might not sound glamorous—but it’s incredibly rewarding. As one of my mentors once told me:
“You’re the hands the surgeon trusts.”
The First Time I Really Felt Like a Scrub Nurse
It happened during a gallbladder removal surgery (a cholecystectomy).
- I’d practiced instrument names and hand positions countless times
- The surgeon asked for a Metzenbaum scissors (we call it a “Metz”)—I passed it smoothly
- Then he asked for an instrument I wasn’t as confident about
My hands froze for a second. But I took a deep breath, stayed calm, and found the right tool. That tiny moment taught me what it feels like to truly belong in the OR.
Why do this nurses Matter So Much?
Inside the OR, there’s no room for error. Timing and accuracy are everything.
Here’s what we do behind the scenes:
✅ Set up the sterile field before surgery
✅ Ensure the correct instruments and supplies are ready
✅ Pass tools and anticipate what the surgeon needs next
✅ Monitor sterility every second
✅ Perform surgical counts so nothing is left inside the patient
All this helps surgeries go smoothly—and keeps patients safe.
My Top 5 Responsibilities as a Scrub Nurse
Let’s break down what scrub nurses do every single day:
1️⃣ Keep the sterile field safe
- Watch for breaks in technique
- Replace contaminated tools immediately
2️⃣ Prepare patients for surgery
- Help position them properly
- Make sure safety measures are in place
3️⃣ Pass instruments
- Anticipate what the surgeon needs before they ask
- Hand over tools in the correct way
4️⃣ Perform surgical counts
- Count sponges, needles, and instruments multiple times
- Make sure nothing is missing before closing
5️⃣ Handle and label specimens
- Safely send tissue samples to pathology
Tips for Student Nurses Dreaming of Scrub Nursing
If you’re thinking about becoming a scrub nurse, here’s what helped me:
- Stay calm under pressure – Even when things get intense
- Learn your instruments – It builds confidence and helps you anticipate needs
- Communicate clearly – Even small updates help the team
- Ask questions – You’ll learn so much by asking experienced nurses
- Never stop learning – New tools and techniques come up all the time
How to Become a Scrub Nurse?
✅ Finish nursing school and become a registered nurse (RN)
✅ Look for perioperative nursing training programs
✅ Apply for OR internships or on-the-job training for new grads
Once you start, every surgery and every team will teach you something new.
Why I Love Being a Scrub Nurse?
It’s challenging, both physically and emotionally—but incredibly meaningful.
- You protect patients when they’re most vulnerable
- You help surgeons do their best work
- You keep surgeries safe behind the scenes
Patients might never know your name—but you’ll know you made a difference.
Final Thoughts: The Quiet Strength of Scrub Nurses
Most people won’t remember the scrub nurse in their surgery story. And that’s okay.
Because scrub nurses show up every day with quiet strength—protecting patients, catching silent mistakes, and making sure surgeries end safely.
To anyone dreaming of this path: it’s not always easy—but it’s worth every second.
And to my fellow scrub nurses out there—thank you for what you do, even when no one sees it.
Resources from my Blog
The Ultimate Guide to Surgical Instruments for Student Nurses.
Other Sources
Want official insights and training resources? Visit the Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), a leading organization supporting scrub nurses worldwide.
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