Which surgical team member is typically responsible for maintaining the sterile field?

The scrub nurse is primarily responsible for maintaining the sterile field during surgery. This role involves ensuring that all instruments and supplies used during the procedure remain sterile, thus preventing any contamination that could lead to infection for the patient. The scrub nurse assists the surgeon and is also tasked with preparing and managing the surgical instruments, ensuring they are readily available and in proper order throughout the operation.

In addition to the scrub nurse, other members of the surgical team play important roles; however, their responsibilities are distinct from the direct maintenance of the sterile field. For example, the circulating nurse oversees the overall environment of the operating room, manages patient flow, and ensures that sterile supplies are available, but they are not positioned within the sterile field. The anesthesiologist focuses on the patient's anesthesia and monitoring during the procedure, while the surgical tech assists the scrub nurse and helps handle instruments but may not have the same level of responsibility for maintaining the sterile field.