8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
A
twitch, a blink, a sudden movement. When you're pass-
ing sharp objects in a busy operating room, the slight-
est miscalculation can result in — ouch! — a painful
and potentially dangerous stick. It's one of the frighten-
ing realities that your OR staff live with. So is the reali-
ty that although you never know for sure what any given patient
might be carrying, you do know that it takes only an instant for one
3 Sharp Ideas to
Improve Sharps Safety
Here's how we responded to a
worrisome uptick in needlesticks and cuts.
Sharon Bouyer-Ferullo, DNP, RN, MHA, CNOR, and Melissa McCarthy, BSN, RN | Boston, Mass.
• NEUTRAL TERRITORY The surgical team identifies the
location of the hands-free passing zone during the pre-op
time out.
