N.Y. Pub. Health Law § 2805-s

§ 2805-s. Circulating nurse required. A registered nurse, qualified by\ntraining and experience in operating room nursing, shall be present as a\ncirculating nurse in any and each separate operating room where surgery\nis being performed for the duration of the operative procedure. Nothing\nin this section precludes a circulating nurse from leaving the operating\nroom as part of the operative procedure, leaving the operating room for\nshort periods; or, in accordance with employee rules or regulations,\nbeing relieved during an operative procedure by another circulating\nnurse assigned to continue the operative procedure.\n