Related Experiment Videos
Healthcare support workers and the scrubbed role
1Institute of Health and Community Studies, Bournemouth University.
British Journal of Perioperative Nursing : the Journal of the National Association of Theatre Nurses
|March 15, 2002
Summary
Theatre nurses highly value the scrubbed role. Recent surveys indicate a strong preference for scrubbed duties over anesthetic roles, with nursing staff predominantly filling these positions in operating departments.
Area of Science:
- Perioperative Nursing
- Surgical Theatre Operations
Background:
- The scrubbed role is a key position within operating departments.
- Understanding nurse preferences and role dominance is crucial for staffing and training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the preference of theatre nurses for the scrubbed role.
- To assess the extent to which nurses dominate the scrubbed area.
Main Methods:
- Survey data from 1989 (Roberts) and 1997 (Hind) were analyzed.
- Nurse preferences for scrubbed versus anesthetic roles were quantified.
Main Results:
- A 1989 survey showed 61.9% of nurses preferred the scrubbed role, compared to 4.8% for anesthetic roles.
- A 1997 survey indicated over 50% of nurses exclusively worked in the scrubbed area.
Conclusions:
- The scrubbed role remains highly valued and predominantly filled by nurses.
- Evidence suggests a sustained preference and dominance of nursing staff in the scrubbed theatre setting.