Patient Safety and Surgical Counts Flashcards
6 cards from real Certified Surgical Technologist practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Patient Safety and Surgical Counts flashcards as text
How many times are surgical counts typically performed during a standard operative procedure?
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.
Which items are included in a complete surgical count per AORN standards?
Answer: Sponges, sharps, and instruments
AORN standards require counting sponges, sharps (needles, blades), and instruments to prevent any item from being retained.
X-ray detectable sponges are used in surgery primarily to:
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.
When a count discrepancy is identified at wound closure, what is the FIRST action?
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.
Which organization establishes the standards for surgical counts in the United States?
Answer: AORN
The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) publishes evidence-based guidelines for surgical counts and patient safety.
If a sponge is added to the sterile field AFTER the initial count, what must occur?
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.