What duties will a scrubbed nurse perform in the operating theatre?

• A. Organise and account for swabs and instruments
• B. Pass instruments
• C. Prepare medications
• D. Monitor anesthesia depth

Answer: (A)

Scrubbed nurses stay sterile and work directly at the surgical field, so their main responsibility is to manage the items within that sterile environment. Organising the instrument tray and keeping an accurate count of all swabs and instruments is essential for patient safety. By arranging items in the order they’ll be used and verifying counts before incision and again before wound closure, the team prevents retained items and ensures the surgeon has what is needed without breaking sterility. While passing instruments is a routine task for a scrubbed nurse, the crucial point highlighted here is ensuring everything is organized and accounted for. Preparing medications and monitoring anesthesia depth are tasks for other team members—the circulating nurse or anaesthetist handles medications, and the anaesthetist monitors anesthesia depth.