TABLE OF CONTENTS Opening Case Study....................................................................................................................................1 Closing Case Study .....................................................................................................................................2 Questions For Further Study.....................................................................................................................3 OPENING CASE STUDY A patient has been scheduled for a diagnostic laparoscopy to confirm the pathology that may be causing chronic pelvic pain. While in the preoperative holding area, a registered nurse (RN) performs the nursing evaluation, including checking the patient’s documentation, confirming allergies and special needs, and providing emotional support. The anesthesia care provider reviews the preanesthesia assessment and starts an intravenous (IV) line. The RN and patient care technician transport the patient into the operating room (OR). The patient notices a person in the OR wearing a surgical gown, mask, gloves, hair cover, and protective eyewear. This person sets up surgical instruments, equipment, and supplies on a large table draped in blue material. The person steps back from the table, turns to the patient, and says, “Good morning, my name is Emma. I’m a Certified Surgical Technologist(CST), and I’ll be assisting Dr. 1. In what nursing role is the RN functioning? ANS: The nurse is functioning in the role of circulator. The circulating role is a licensed professional whose scope of practice is inclusive of patient care, patient identification, patient documentation, and patient advocacy. As part of the surgical team, the circulator will remain as the nonsterile professional capable of providing the sterile surgical team with needed supplies during a surgical procedure. 2. In what surgical technologist role is Emma functioning? ANS: Emma is the surgical technologist in the first scrub role. Within their scope of practice, the responsibility of a surgical technologist is to provide optimal patient care, advocate for the patient, demonstrate therapeutic support, and assist the surgical team by helping the patient return to their best possible state of wellbeing.