AORN is the national membership organization for perioperative registered nurses. Perioperative nurses work in the operating room as RN circulators, in the scrub role, and as first assistants at surgery. Perioperative nurses work closely with surgical technologists working in the scrub role as the scrub role is a delegated nursing function. AORN has long supported specialty certification for surgical technologists without endorsement of any particular certifying body.

AORN's Position Statement on Orientation of the Registered Nurse and Surgical Technologist confirms AORN's belief that allied health care providers including surgical technologists should be graduates of accredited education programs or should successfully complete a specialty certification process. Recognizing only one certifying body (NBSTSA) limits employment and recruitment opportunities for hospitals and surgery centers without any corresponding patient safety or public health benefit. We urge the board to recognize additional certifications equivalent to NBSTSA in registering surgical technologists in the state.

Thank you for your consideration.