Certified Surgical Technologist Patient Safety and Surgical Counts 3

Question 1

Which document is used to officially record surgical counts during an operative case?

Accepted Answer

Count sheet / count record

Answer

Operative report

Answer

Anesthesia record

Answer

Discharge summary

Question 2

How should soiled sponges be organized in the kick bucket to facilitate accurate counting?

Accepted Answer

Kept in groups of 5 or 10

Answer

Tossed in loosely for speed

Answer

Separated individually and spread on the floor

Answer

Placed in groups of 3 or 6

Question 3

The scrub technologist's primary responsibility during surgical counts is to:

Accepted Answer

Participate in the count and immediately report discrepancies to the circulator

Answer

Count instruments only, while the circulator handles sponges

Answer

Document all count results in the patient's chart

Answer

Perform post-procedure verification in the PACU

Question 4

An incorrect count at skin closure requires which actions?

Accepted Answer

Both immediate notification of the surgeon and an intraoperative radiograph

Answer

Radiograph of the operative site only

Answer

Immediate notification of the surgeon only

Answer

Documentation of the discrepancy in the chart only

Question 5

A 'raytec' sponge is most commonly used in surgery to:

Accepted Answer

Blot small amounts of blood within the operative wound

Answer

Pack large abdominal cavities

Answer

Cover and protect exposed organs

Answer

Wrap delicate instruments on the back table

Question 6

When should the scrub technologist notify the surgeon of a count discrepancy?

Accepted Answer

Immediately upon identifying the discrepancy

Answer

After the wound is fully closed

Answer

Only if the discrepancy cannot be resolved after two recounts

Answer

At the end of the procedure during sign-out