{"id":558,"date":"2022-12-14T14:39:38","date_gmt":"2022-12-14T14:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/?p=558"},"modified":"2022-12-14T14:39:39","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T14:39:39","slug":"module-4-c-counting-sharps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/?p=558","title":{"rendered":"Module 4: C. Counting Sharps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2>Counting Sharps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>   Sharps are either pointed or cutting items, typically made of metallic material. For the count to be correct, all segments must be accounted for if a sharp breaks. This reduces the risk of a retained piece. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>   The following objects are included as sharps: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"slider\">\n    <div class=\"slide\">\n        <div class=\"slide-content\">\n            <div class=\"slide-image\" style=\"background: url('https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image16.jpg');\"><\/div>\n            <p class=\"slide-description\"><strong>Surgical needles <\/strong> <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"slide\">\n        <div class=\"slide-content\">\n            <div class=\"slide-image\" style=\"background: url('https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/word-image-472-13.jpeg');\"><\/div>\n            <p class=\"slide-description\"><strong>Hypodermic needles <\/strong> <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"slide\">\n        <div class=\"slide-content\">\n            <div class=\"slide-image\" style=\"background: url('https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/word-image-472-14.jpeg');\"><\/div>\n            <p class=\"slide-description\"><strong> Scalpel blades<\/strong> <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"slide\">\n        <div class=\"slide-content\">\n            <div class=\"slide-image\" style=\"background: url('https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/word-image-472-15.jpeg');\"><\/div>\n            <p class=\"slide-description\"><strong>Cautery tips <\/strong> <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-container-3 wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-container-1 wp-block-column\">\n<h5>Suture Needles<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>\n  Disposable sutures are prepackaged and sterilized by the manufacturer. The label will specify the number of suture needles contained in the package.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n  Reusable eyed needles will come in a sterilized needle rack or book, which are sterilized separately from instruments. These reusable suture needles are much less common than other types.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>\n    Suture needles are counted and recorded based on the number on the outer package<a id=\"post-472-_Int_lHlyDNvA\"><\/a>. This needs to be verified by the scrub nurse when the package is opened.\n  <\/li><li>\n     The scrub nurse should not open all the packages for the initial count as this creates a greater risk for retained items. \n  <\/li><li>\n    Surgical gut suture packages also need to remain closed until the time of use, <a id=\"post-472-_Int_A9FN5Tfl\"><\/a>to prevent the alcohol from evaporating and making it less pliable.\n  <\/li><li>\n    Disposable sutures are prepackaged and sterilized by the manufacturer<a id=\"post-472-_Int_E4aVgE3P\"><\/a>. The label will specify the number of suture needles contained in the package.\n  <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\n  Note: Counting empty suture packages is not appropriate for recalling a count at the end of the procedure.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-container-2 wp-block-column\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image16-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image16-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image16-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image16-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image16.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>   Suture needles on the sterile field need to remain: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n          &#8211;   In their sterile package\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n          &#8211;   Mounted on a needle driver\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n          &#8211;   In the needle counter\/sharps pad\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n  During the procedure, when multiple sutures are being used, the scrub nurse is responsible for keeping track of suture needles and retrieving them as soon as possible.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n  When all the sharps are returned to the scrub nurse after wound closure, a final count can be considered complete.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n  Several small-sized suture needles are difficult to visualize on an X-ray. Healthcare institutions may include a specific size range in which an X-ray may not be used, as they do not have the technology to pick up the small suture needles. These small suture needles are still required to be accounted for.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n  If a suture falls off the sterile field, it must be retained for count reconciliation. A magnetic stick or roller can be used to search for sutures on the ground or a piece of tape may be used to pick up suture needles.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5>Other Sharps<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>\n    Hypodermic needles that come with a cap need to be counted <a id=\"post-472-_Int_lQi791vV\"><\/a>to ensure there is no retained portion.\n  <\/li><li>\n    Scalpel blades come in individual packages. In some cases, they come pre-sterilized in a custom pack.  They are opened by a circulating nurse who retrieves the blade with a needle driver and places it in a needle counter\/sharps container for counting.\n  <\/li><li>\n    If they come pre-sterilized, the scrub nurse should always verify the blade is present after opening the package.\n  <\/li><li>\n    Cautery pencils come with a stock tip. Additional tips in varying sizes, come packaged individually.\n  <\/li><li>\n    Counted sharps should not be taken off the sterile field or leave the OR.\n  <\/li><li>\n    If counted sharps fall off the sterile field or puncture a glove, they need to be retained and secured to reconcile the count at the end of the procedure. An empty specimen container may be used for a lost sharp.\n  <\/li><li>\n    Personnel must be mindful when retrieving sharps off the ground. As stated above, using a magnetic stick or a piece of tape is helpful in finding the items. \n  <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\n  (Phillips, 2020, ORNAC 2021)\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-container-6 wp-block-columns\">\n<div class=\"wp-container-4 wp-block-column\">\n<h5>Counting Miscellaneous Items<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>\n  Opened miscellaneous items are to be included in the surgical count. These items can be retained as foreign bodies. Each healthcare institution will have its own policy\/procedure as to which miscellaneous items must be included in the count.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>   Examples of surgical miscellaneous items include: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>     Syringes   <\/li><li>     Clip cartridges   <\/li><li>     Vessel loops   <\/li><li>     Hernia and umbilical tapes   <\/li><li>     Defogger solution bottles, caps, wipe sponges   <\/li><li>     Small endoscope parts such as trocar caps, springs, washers, valves   <\/li><li>     Screws   <\/li><li>     Wing nuts   <\/li><li>     Elastic bands   <\/li><li>     Suture reels   <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>\n  These items can come packed or counted as individuals or as multiples, depending on the item. For example, vessel loops come in a pack of two; therefore, the circulating nurse will record two on the count.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n  (Phillips, 2020 &amp; ORNAC, 2021)\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-container-5 wp-block-column\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image23-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image23-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image23-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image23-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image23.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Counting Sharps Sharps are either pointed or cutting items, typically made of metallic material. For the count to be correct, all segments must be accounted for if a sharp breaks. This reduces the risk of a retained piece. The following objects are included as sharps: Surgical needles Hypodermic needles Scalpel blades Cautery tips Suture Needles [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"templates\/template-content.php","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[6],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=558"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":564,"href":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/558\/revisions\/564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=558"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=558"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=558"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/perioperative1002.slc-courses.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwf_post_folders&post=558"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}