Thomas | ABSN Student
Region: US
Friday 18 September 2026 23:00:41 GMT
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Kristinbb :
I was a scrub tech for 5 years before I came an OR Nurse. And both positions deserve the same level of respect. Scrub techs know the intricate details of each procedure and anticipate each need and are 10 steps ahead. But once I became a circulator I saw all the invisible work they do. They run the room. From positioning, meds, specimens, implants, charting, patient safety, helping anesthesia, coordinating everything, basically being IT, and knowing every piece of equipment, knowing each surgeons preferences, and knowing each specialty.
2026-09-19 04:53:24
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Heidi :
Scrub tech here. Don’t get me wrong, I love my circulators and have the utmost respect for them. Especially the ones who aren’t afraid to go toe to toe with the surgeons. But it really does suck when I look over at them and they’re in the corner scrolling on their phone and I’m getting screamed at by the surgeon because the robot arms keep hitting each other… 😆
2026-09-19 02:46:37
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Asia :
As an OR nurse , it’s our job to run the room. Yes, the surgeon is doing the surgery. Yes, the scrub techs are handing the instruments over and are closer to the surgeon helping . However, is the nurse’s responsibility to know all the surgeons to make sure they have is correct a lot of times we have to know the next step to it. Not to mention we assist anesthesia with intubating patients..if something goes wrong. We are the ones that have to get on top of the patient and start doing cpr if it comes down to that. We have to be ready at all times for anything possible, so no, we don’t just sit in front computer or in front of paperwork all the time. I think both professions and everyone else in the room have the same respect. You are in the job that you chose.
2026-09-20 21:43:26
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SFlyer MD :
Unless they are scrub nurses, yeah circulators gather supplies, count, help us out and chart.
2026-09-19 01:59:48
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Romaine :
Hate us cuz they ain't us...Only an OR RN knows the whole scope of what we do, anyone else's opinion/perspective? 0 value to me...Because babe, unless you're in these shoes, you can't walk the walk, so I don't even care what comes out of your mouth when ya talk.
2026-09-19 18:43:39
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Nicole Jasmine 🌸 :
As a circulator it sounds like you missed a lot of what we do. Did you the room prep/start of the case or go in once the surgery had started?
2026-09-19 01:30:35
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niya.gray -SST⚕️ :
Nah all they do is get supplies and chart the surgery . They never scrub in , they’re the only people in the OR that’s not sterile .
2026-09-18 23:11:24
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Angela Jones Cotton :
If a circulator can sit and relax that means they know their shit and that case. If you’re running around, you’re new…OR your patient is trying to go meet Jesus.
2026-09-19 03:35:35
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Kass ❤️🔥 :
Not all hospitals, at mine Nurses learn how to scrub. Also circulating is running the room. With no circulator there’s no supplies, no equipment, no meds nothing. Circulators are a critical part of the whole surgery even happening
2026-09-18 23:11:32
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Elena :
They transport the patient to the OR, position patient, do skin prep, chart, handle specimen, grab necessities the team might need! I only see them chill when it’s a long procedure but they’re always making sure everything is running smoothly :) love them lol
2026-09-19 01:47:20
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jordy5794 :
Depends on where you are. A level 1 trauma center is very different than like an independent surgery center
2026-09-20 18:25:38
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Dominique :
We do a lot more than “just paperwork.” And that paperwork is extremely important anyways. We’re responsible for knowing so much. We have to anticipate needs too and be listening to what’s going on so we can grab things that may be needed. It’s never just sitting back and charting. I always prefer scrubbing over circulating because it’s easier in my opinion. You’re responsible for scrubbing and can focus on just that.
2026-09-19 12:25:14
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Alexandra Pelletier :
As a circulator the experience can differ from place to place. What I will say is there’s a lot of invisible work you don’t see. We’re responsible for getting the entire room ready, positioning, prepping, having all the machines we need . Looking into patients history, making sure labs look good , ordering labs, ordering blood, making sure all the preop work up is done. We are huge coordinators. Also working trauma I do get to practice a lot of IV lines, foleys . Some places have us learn scrubbing. Working trauma is a lot more hectic
2026-09-19 22:09:13
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@GabsW A L K :
then you weren't really paying attention. circulating is one of those jobs that looks easy until youre the one doing it. and I both scrubbed and circulated during my 45 year career
2026-09-19 04:33:45
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x_navarrette :
They are like stenographer of the OR, and a lead Forman of a very important construction site. They have a very important role just not as active in the actual surgery, unless they learn how to scrub. OR nursing is not like floor nursing, I wouldn't recommend it straight out of school, youll lose majority of your nursing skills.
2026-09-20 19:16:54
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cleos dad :
Not true 31 yrs in the OR in both roles
2026-09-19 04:59:19
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SarTallGreen :
As a Circulator, I feel there is so much negativity and no appreciation for what we do. Dealing with surgeons, being one step ahead and knowing what might be needed, knowing what supplies are needed, and how the room needs to be setup.
2026-09-19 10:46:46
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Jennifer Till859 🇺🇸 :
The OR Circulating nurse is the one who charts everything, gets extra supplies that are needed during the surgery, makes phone calls if things aren’t well and extra help is needed. The surgery team are scrubbed and sterile, they can’t just leave and get a supply that wasn’t anticipated due to a complication or something. Very important position, you want a circulator on the computer typing, that means the surgery is going like clock work and there are no complications or surprises. We don’t like surprises in the OR, especially for routine, scheduled surgeries.
2026-09-20 09:44:01
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Kon :
This is completely case, skill, and geographically dependent. One observation does not constitute a generalization.
2026-09-19 03:23:12
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Mmmmkay :
I worked a level one trauma center as an OR nurse. I scrubbed some cases and circulated others. Your experience is not true for all.
2026-09-19 00:43:27
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noreen schacht :
Whoa, we are his team! There is so much more than you saw.
2026-09-19 04:46:11
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Kurstin | RN :
Hidden Gem is working Cardiac Cath Lab, the RN’s get to sedate/push all drugs/manage oxygen delivery systems of the patients for about 80% of cases (depends on the lab), also nurses can scrub in with the interventional cardiologists! One of the few procedural areas that nurses actually get to be very involved!
2026-09-19 00:39:01
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Cara Beth 💙 :
I’ve been an OR nurse for almost 20 years and it’s a lot more than charting and getting supplies. We are the patient advocates. I always tell people we are the “moms of the OR.” Whatever needs to happen for the room happens because of the coordinating efforts of the OR nurse. Great OR nurses can make or break a case. a lot of circulators are also trained to scrub as well.
2026-09-19 02:10:29
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Jessica :
OR nurse here, in my facility nurses scrub and circulate. Sometimes I scrub more in a month than I do circulate. It just depends. Butttt, referring to what you are saying in the video, once the surgery is started and everything has calmed down, of course we step back and chart and get to “relax”. We still have our OR ears on and stay on edge to expect the unexpected, etc. After all the coordinating because of case order switches, delays, patient clearances, consents,running for equipment, grabbing supplies that will be needed during the case, contacting vendors, positioning patient, assisting anesthesia, opening trays…that is our little time to decompress especially when things are going smoothly during the case. The tech of course will be more involved and on in the case, they are the sterile person directly involved in the case at that moment in time.
2026-09-19 12:34:34
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Brianna Moton :
Unless you're a CRNA.
2026-09-18 23:10:05
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