• Prior to surgeon leaving the OR. The circulating nurse confirms
that all instrument, sponge and needle counts are completed and the
items are accounted for. If there were any equipment or other issues
during the case, additional steps are required.
Train and revise
After compiling the feedback, they presented the checklist to the OR
committee, the perioperative patient care areas, and the departments of
anesthesia and surgery for approval.
"Once we had approval, we immediately began training," says Ms.
DiBrienza. They developed scripts for the staff. Trainers observed
staff and gave them feedback over the course of the multiple in-
services.
One hurdle: Some
surgeons felt the
checklist took too
long to complete. "We
reminded them that
the same thing
happened when we
initiated the surgical
time out," says OR
Manager Anna
Prendergast, BSN,
RN, CCRN. "There
was a learning curve,
but once we all found
a rhythm it became a
natural part of the
surgical process."
9 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J U N E 2 0 1 8
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