enfermeiro instrumentista
The English phrase "scrub nurse" is enfermeiro instrumentista in Portuguese.
This term refers to a nurse who handles surgical instruments for a surgeon during an operation.
Meaning: nurse that handles instruments to the surgeon during an operation (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of enfermeiro, meaning nurse and instrumentista, meaning one who handles instruments.
Which one should you use?
While enfermeiro instrumentista is the standard term, you may also use instrumentador or instrumentadora to refer to the person performing this role in many clinical settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Portugal, you might more commonly hear enfermeira instrumentista than enfermeira cirúrgica. In Brazil, you might hear enfermeira de sala de cirurgia instead of enfermeira de sala cirúrgica.
How does it change in a sentence?
The term changes to the feminine form enfermeira instrumentista if the nurse is female.
Did you know?
- The word instrumentista is also used in Portuguese to describe a musician who plays an instrument, creating a linguistic overlap between the clinic and the concert hall.
- In some Brazilian hospitals, the role of instrumentador may be performed by a technician rather than a licensed enfermeiro.
- While English uses 'scrub' to describe the nurse's action, the Portuguese term instrumentista focuses entirely on the objects the person manages.
Examples in context
- O enfermeiro instrumentista preparou a mesa de cirurgia.The scrub nurse prepared the surgical table.
- Precisamos de um enfermeiro instrumentista para esta cirurgia.We need a scrub nurse for this surgery.
- A função do enfermeiro instrumentista é vital no centro cirúrgico.The role of the scrub nurse is vital in the operating room.
Example conversation
Two medical colleagues are preparing for a surgery.
- GabrielQuem será o enfermeiro instrumentista hoje?Who will be the scrub nurse today?
- CamilaA Camila será a enfermeira instrumentista.Camila will be the scrub nurse.
- GabrielÓtimo, ela é muito eficiente.Great, she is very efficient.
- CamilaSim, ela conhece todos os instrumentos.Yes, she knows all the instruments.
