Certified Surgical Technologist Patient Safety and Surgical Counts 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How many times are surgical counts typically performed during a standard operative procedure?
- Once, at the start
- Twice — start and end
- Three to four times — initial, before cavity closure, and at skin closure (Correct answer)
- Five times throughout the case
Correct answer: Three to four times — initial, before cavity closure, and at skin closure
Counts are performed at initial setup, before closure of a body cavity, before skin closure, and at case end to ensure no items are retained.
Question 2: Which items are included in a complete surgical count per AORN standards?
- Sponges only
- Instruments only
- Sponges, sharps, and instruments (Correct answer)
- Sharps and sponges only
Correct answer: Sponges, sharps, and instruments
AORN standards require counting sponges, sharps (needles, blades), and instruments to prevent any item from being retained.
Question 3: X-ray detectable sponges are used in surgery primarily to:
- Absorb larger volumes of blood
- Enable radiographic detection if inadvertently retained (Correct answer)
- Reduce the risk of wound infection
- Speed up the counting process
Correct answer: Enable radiographic detection if inadvertently retained
Radiopaque markers woven into surgical sponges allow them to be identified on X-ray if a retained item is suspected.
Question 4: When a count discrepancy is identified at wound closure, what is the FIRST action?
- Perform a recount of all items (Correct answer)
- Notify the charge nurse
- Document the discrepancy and proceed
- Request a radiograph immediately
Correct answer: Perform a recount of all items
A recount is performed first to rule out a counting error before escalating to a radiograph or other measures.
Question 5: Which organization establishes the standards for surgical counts in the United States?
- CDC
- AORN (Correct answer)
- FDA
- CMS
Correct answer: AORN
The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) publishes evidence-based guidelines for surgical counts and patient safety.
Question 6: If a sponge is added to the sterile field AFTER the initial count, what must occur?
- No action is needed until the closing count
- The surgeon must personally recount all sponges
- The added sponge must be counted and included in the running total (Correct answer)
- A new count sheet must be started from zero
Correct answer: The added sponge must be counted and included in the running total
Any item added to the sterile field mid-procedure must be immediately counted and added to the existing tally to maintain accuracy.
Certified Surgical Technologist Patient Safety and Surgical Counts 1
How many times are surgical counts typically performed during a standard operative procedure?