Role of Circulator Nurse in Operating Room

The circulator nurse is responsible for managing the nursing care of the patient within the Operating Room and coordinating the needs of the surgical team with other care providers necessary for completion of surgery. The circulator nurse observes the surgery and the surgical team from a broad perspective and assists the team to create and maintain a safe and comfortable environment for the patient. The circulator nurse assesses the patient’s condition before, during, and after the operation to ensure an optimal outcome for the patient. Circulating during surgery is a perioperative nursing function. The role of the circulator may not be delegated to a UAP, Licensed Practice Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse.

A circulating nurse, another type of operating room (OR) nurse, works on the perimeter of the operating room, monitoring patient care, ensuring that the room stays sterile, and keeping track of instruments and sponges. Perioperative nurses also help to prepare patients for surgery, and they provide valuable care and monitoring for patients when their surgeries are over. Surgeons may do the cutting, but a scrub nurse is every bit as important.
In the operating room, most patients are anesthetized or sedated and are powerless to make decisions on their own behalf during the intraoperative phase. The circulating nurse serves as the patient advocate while the patient is least able to care for him or herself.