The Effect of RN Circulator–Scrub Person Dyad Consistency on Total OR Time and Turnover Time

Abstract

Operating room efficiency is an important consideration for perioperative nurse leaders because it can affect their facilities’ revenue and provider and patient satisfaction. Using consistent perioperative teams, including the same RN circulator and scrub person, for consecutive procedures may improve OR efficiency. This retrospective cross‐sectional cohort study assessed the effects of a consistent team in the form of RN circulator–scrub person dyads on the total OR and turnover times for 310 surgical procedures using electronic OR records data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program that was collected in 2008. Controlling for relevant variables (eg, procedure type consistency, number of staff members present, procedure complexity), the association between RN circulator–scrub person dyads and total OR time and turnover time was not significant.