Which action best describes the role of a surgical technologist in the OR?

• A. Complete the patient's admission assessment.
• B. Pass sterile instruments and supplies to the surgeon.
• C. Teach the patient about what to expect in the OR.
• D. Give the postoperative report to the PACU nurse.

Answer: (B)

The main concept is the scrub role of the surgical technologist in the operating room, which centers on maintaining a sterile field and supplying the surgeon with instruments and sterile supplies. The action of passing sterile instruments and supplies to the surgeon best fits this role because it directly supports the surgeon’s need for timely, aseptic instrument access and helps prevent breaches in sterility that could compromise the procedure. This requires anticipating what the surgeon will need next, keeping everything organized and sterile, and handing items safely.

Other tasks described belong to different perioperative team members: admission assessment is handled by preoperative nursing; teaching the patient about what to expect in the OR is typically done preoperatively by the nurse or patient educator; and giving the postoperative report to the PACU nurse is the responsibility of the circulating nurse or PACU staff, not the scrub tech.