RESUMO
A descriptive study was carried out from October 10th, 2002 through March 10th, 2003 in order to assess the scrub nurses' performance at the operating room [OR]. Fifty scrub nurses was the sample, selected from [5] teaching hospital in Baghdad. An assessment tool was constructed and it was comprised of [3] parts, which were dealing with demographic data, scrub nurses' performance [six domains]and the equipment and supplies availability in the operating room. The validity of the questionnaire was determined through panel of experts. Reliability of the questionnaire was tested at 0.92. Data were analyzed through the application of frequencies, percentage mean and Chi-square. The result of study revealed that the practices of scrub nurses were satisfactory in some domains [preparation of scrub nurses before entering OR, wearing clothes and gloves of operation, draping and sheet] and unsatisfactory in some domains [surgical hand scrub, practices concerned with preparation during surgery, antiseptic technique and surgical instruments]. The result also revealed that the scrub nurses practices were not significant related to years of experience and level of education.It was also found that there was shortage in some equipment and supplies, which were utilized by scrub nurses in the OR. The study recommended that scrub nurses should be provided with educational programs and materials can be distributed to staff concerning this issue, and providing hospitals with antiseptic solution for surgical hand scrub which kills pathogenic microorganism