Question 1

Which of the following is not a type of dissecting sponge?

Accepted Answer

A swab,or gauze,sponge is a prefolded sterile sponge that should not be opened out to single ply and used for blunt dissection because fibers along the edge could become a foreign body in the wound.

Question 2

Which area is counted first during the first closing count?

Accepted Answer

Counts are taken in three areas before the surgeon starts to close an incision: the field is counted first,followed by the Mayo stand and instrument table; then the circulating nurse counts sponges,tapes,and items on the floor or in the kick bucket.

Question 3

What is included in the verbal report given to the PACU nurse once the patient reaches the recovery area?

Accepted Answer

The information given to the recovery nurse is important to continuity of care and gives the recovery nurse information pertinent to providing safe care to the patient.

Question 4

Which is an acceptable method of transferring sterile items to the sterile field?

Accepted Answer

Flip only small items so they don't land on the floor.Flipping creates air turbulence so it should be kept to a minimum.

Question 5

What principle is not associated with motion economy?

Accepted Answer

Motions that are symmetric are rhythmic and flow smoothly.For example,using two hands to clean a table surface will accomplish the task faster and easier.

Question 6

Where should the safety belt be positioned on a patient?

Accepted Answer

The safety belt is applied over the patient's thighs 2 to 3 inches above the knees.

Question 7

Which is not an example of the economical use of supplies in the OR?

Accepted Answer

Because contaminated trash is processed at a cost per pound,noncontaminated trash should be separated so that a facility is not charged for it as contaminated.

Question 8

The correct way for the scrub person to receive a local medication on the field is

Accepted Answer

The circulating nurse will dispense the drug to the sterile field after identification of the drug and expiration date with the scrub person.The circulating nurse will dispense the drug to the field after drawing it up into a syringe.It is not dispensed through the needle because that could cause the drug to aerosolize and expose susceptible personnel.

Question 9

When should sponges be removed from the room?

Accepted Answer

Do not discard or remove counted sponges from the room for any reason until the patient is out of the room.

Question 10

What instrument should be immediately handed up after a suture ligature is passed to the surgeon?

Accepted Answer

Scissors will be needed to cut the suture after it has been tied.

Question 11

Which is a type of syringe used for injection?

Accepted Answer

A Luer-Lok is a type of syringe that has a tip that locks over the needle hub.It is used to inject or aspirate fluid.The Toomey,Asepto,and tapered bulb syringes are used for irrigation.

Question 12

When is the baseline count done?

Accepted Answer

The scrub person and circulating nurse together count all items before the surgical procedure begins during a baseline count.

Question 13

When opening blades onto a sterile field,where is the best place to lay them?

Accepted Answer

Blades should be opened on the working end of the sterile field and the scrub person should be aware of exactly where they are opened.Do not open other items near the blades,and do not open them into basins because contact with the basin dulls the cutting surface.

Question 14

If a surgeon is working deep within the peritoneal cavity,what is the best choice of sponge to hand up?

Accepted Answer

Because the cavity being worked in is deep,laparotomy tapes are the best choice to control bleeding and have less chance of being lost in the wound as may happen with a Ray-Tec sponge.

Question 15

Which is a responsibility of the circulating nurse as the patient enters the room for a surgical procedure?

Accepted Answer

Some responsibilities of the circulating nurse include introducing self,identifying the patient,offering a blanket from the warming cabinet,asking the patient to identify self,checking the patient's wristband,asking the patient to describe the procedure to be done,having the patient point to the surgical site,checking to see that the spot is marked,verifying the information given to you by the patient with the surgical consent form,verifying allergies the patient may have,and making sure the patient is wearing a cap on their head.These responsibilities protect the wrong patient from having the wrong surgery on the wrong site.

Question 16

When does the "timeout" occur during a surgical procedure?

Accepted Answer

A "timeout" is performed to verify the correct site and correct patient before the procedure is started.

Question 17

What level of movement of the upper extremity involves the opening of a peel-pack package?

Accepted Answer

Class 3 involves hand,fingers,and forearm.Activities in this class include opening a peel-pack package,unfolding drapes,and unwrapping small supplies.

Question 18

Which is a reason the instrument table and Mayo stand must remain sterile until the patient has left the room?

Accepted Answer

Hemorrhage,cardiac arrest,laryngospasm,premature drain extraction,or other emergencies can occur in the immediate postoperative-postanesthesia period.Instruments on the Mayo stand or back table can be used in an emergency situation.

Question 19

Which is a piece of standard equipment needed for a surgical procedure that must be monitored throughout the procedure?

Accepted Answer

The ESU pencil becomes hot and could burn the patient or a team member.A holder or holster should be attached to the drape with nonperforating clips and the ESU placed in the holster when not in use.

Question 20

Where is an optimal location to place the dispersive electrode pad for use with an ESU?

Accepted Answer

The pad must be in direct contact with the patient's skin.Scar tissue,hair,and a bony prominence may prevent the pad from adhering to the skin surface.

Quiz 25: Coordinated Roles of the Scrub Person and the Circulating Nurse