a. In carrying out the many tasks necessary for a day’s surgery, operating room (OR) specialists must coordinate their work to provide a safe and efficient environment for the patient.

Lack of coordination (or teamwork) results in errors, misunderstandings between personnel, and waste of time. In view of the nature of the care given the patient in the operating room, any of these results may have dire consequences for the patient.

b. Professional personnel are responsible for developing a systematic method (work plan) for operative procedures.

Operating room specialists, under the supervision of professional nurses and the noncommissioned officer in charge (NCOIC), are responsible for learning and acquiring optimum skill in performing their tasks in accordance with the methods that have been developed. The enlisted operating room specialist should be aware of his area of responsibility and should realize that each step or detail in a procedure is important.

Methods for performing procedures vary among operating room suites, but the rules for observing aseptic technique and the duties of the circulator and the scrub discussed in this text are basic to every operative procedure. The operating room specialist may be assigned to perform duties as the circulator or the scrub during a surgical procedure.