Scrub Nurses, or Theatre Nurses, are there for patients when they are most vulnerable, supporting them through the entire surgical process.

They are the first point of contact for patients, the professionals who ease patients' worries about their surgery. After surgery, they are the first person patients see when they wake up. 

If you're thinking about becoming a Theatre Nurse, keep reading! Here's how to become a Scrub Nurse and what you will do once you have.

How To Become a Scub Nurse

Be a Registered Nurse

You will need to be registered with the NMC as an adult, child, mental health, or learning disability nurse to be able to work as a nurse in Theatres.

Before you apply, it can be helpful to understand perioperative care through reading or further education studies. However, you do not need any previous training except for your nursing degree! 

Have the Right Soft Skills

As a Scrub Nurse, you'll have many valuable skills that can be transferred to different environments – in and outside hospitals! Below are some of the soft skills that you will need to have to thrive in theatres:

• Be able to work in a fast-paced environment, with attention to detail
• Be able to stand still and concentrate for long periods
• Be able to react quickly and calmly under pressure
• Be highly organised, tidy, and able to prioritise
• Be compassionate and flexible

Get Specialist Training

After your induction, you must complete specialist training and some courses to reinforce and strengthen your skills.

There are many further education courses for Scrub Nursing and Perioperative Care that you can take as a Registered Nurse. Although many of them require you to already be working as a Theatre Nurse, it is worth looking into this during your induction! The courses are often part-time, so you will be able to remain working while you study!

What Scrub Nurses Do

Scrub Nurses have many roles and responsibilities. You'll never get bored as there is always something to do!

You will be involved in each stage of perioperative care, from the patient's admission to the patient's recovery and discharge.

Pre-Operative

As an admissions nurse, you ensure patients know why they need the surgery and any risks involved. You will listen to the patient and answer any questions they might have. You will also ensure that the patient is fit for surgery.

Anaesthetic

As the Anaesthetic Nurse, you will prepare any equipment needed for the anaesthetising of the patient, including specialist equipment, devices, and drugs. You'll then support the Anaesthetist in delivering the anaesthetic before assessing the patient before they go into surgery.

Surgery

There are two main nursing roles within the operating theatre: the Scrub Nurse and the Circulating Nurse. Generally, you will rotate between these for different surgeries.

As the Scrub Nurse, you work in the sterile part of the operating theatre. You will help clean the patient's skin and hand all instruments, including sharps and swabs, to the surgeon when needed. You will be in charge of all instruments, ensuring that they are all present and accounted for before the surgeon can close the patient up. 

As the Circulating Nurse, you will be responsible for the smooth running of the surgery. You'll manage the nursing care and ensure the scrub team has everything they need. You will also be the patient's advocate, providing the patient with prioritised care throughout the surgery. You will also communicate any calls or messages to the Scrub Nurse so that they can inform the surgeon.

Recovery

As the Recovery Nurse, you will monitor the patient's health before and as they wake up. You'll support them through the recovery process, offering care and assessing them before they are discharged, ensuring that it is safe. 

Working as a Scrub Nurse is incredibly rewarding. You get to see the tangible difference you make to patients' lives in every shift after every surgery. Theatre Nursing is also a sought-after role, with many different areas within surgery, so there will always be available jobs.

If you're looking for work in theatres, you can find jobs here or contact 0207 220 0825.