Why you should read this article:

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To enhance your awareness of the latest developments in surgery, including robotic techniques

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To recognise the knowledge and skills required by scrub nurses

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To understand what the scrub nurse’s role entails during robotic surgery

In the operating theatre, the scrub nurse has a wide range of roles, including responsibility for organising and ensuring that the correct instrumentation is available to the surgeon in the operating field, while maintaining stringent adherence to the principles of asepsis. Robotic techniques have revolutionised many procedures, providing surgeons with improved tissue access and tool control compared with open or laparoscopic techniques. However, adopting this technology has created additional challenges in the scrub nurse’s role in areas such as team dynamics and the need to gather and disseminate vital patient information. This article explores the role of the scrub nurse and the challenges that may be encountered in the developing area of robotic surgery.