What is the procedure for a count discrepancy?

Count discrepancies When counts are discrepant, the operating-room personnel must perform a recount, and, if they are unable to reconcile the counts, they should immediately notify the surgeon and the operating room supervisor and conduct a search for the missing item, including the patient, floor, garbage and linen.

Who is responsible for the surgical count?

The registered nurse is accountable for counts during the surgical procedure. Count procedure should be performed by two persons (scrub and circulating nurse), one of whom shall be a registered nurse.

What should be considered as counted items in surgical instruments?

These include, but are not limited to, suture needles, scalpel blades, hypodermic needles, electrosurgical needles, and blades. Surgical Sponges (4 x 4’s or 4 x 8’s) are soft goods used to absorb fluids, protect tissues, or apply pressure or traction.

Who is responsible for surgical count?

What are the steps a perioperative RN should take if a count is done and a sponge is missing?

When counting radiopaque surgical soft goods,

• remove the band surrounding surgical sponges and discard it;
• completely separate each item;
• count audibly;
• count packaged radiopaque sponges to the number that the item is packaged in (eg, five, 10);

What are the acorn standards?

The ACORN Standards for Perioperative Nursing in Australia (the Standards) constitute the specialty knowledge of the perioperative nursing community in Australia and represent the accepted standard for professional perioperative nursing practice. Individual standards are regularly reviewed and updated.

What systematic steps should be taken to find the missing needle?

A systematic visual search, abdominal radiography, fluoroscopy, and the use of a magnetic retriever were reported as the most successful strategies for needle recovery.