The OR Suite
The proper attire for the semi restricted area in the operating room suite, such as an OR conference room, is:
The scrub suit, cap, and shoe covers are donned upon entering the OR suite and would be required in the semi restricted area such as the OR conference room.
The legal rule broken when a surgical team member discloses information about a patient which he or she learned in the operating room is:
Invasion of privacy is disclosing information about a patient. The patient’s record contains confidential information.
The motto of the Association of Surgical Technologists is Aeger Primo, which means:
C. Rationale: Aeger primo means “the patient first.”
During a Mastectomy, the electrosurgical unit begins to smoke and spark. A halon fire extinguisher is brought into the room. How should the fire extinguisher be used?
The four steps for using a fire extinguisher use the acronym PASS (Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep from side to side).
Obtaining an informed consent for surgery is the ultimate responsibility of the:
The surgeon is responsible for explaining to the patient the nature of the proposed procedure, the necessity for the operation, the risks, the benefits, and alternative treatment options.
Three patients have been diagnosed with surgical site infections (SSIs). Which department will investigate the cause of these infections?
Risk management may be called into assess surgical site infections, investigate the circumstances using a root cause analysis, and take measures to correct any identified issues.
Defamation or injury to an individual’s character carried out in writing is called:
Libel is written defamation; slander is oral defamation; battery is the carrying out of an unlawful threat to harm someone; abandonment is leaving the patient when the patient’s condition warrants the presence of the health care professional.
If a surgical sponge was left in a patient, this would be an example of which legal doctrine?
The legal term res ipsa loqitor means “the thing speaks for itself.”
Where will the safety strap be located on the patient undergoing Thoracotomy?
The safety strap for a patient in the supine position is 2 inches above the knees, unless otherwise directed.
The reason for the 90° limit for extension of a patient’s arms on a padded arm board is avoiding injury to the:
When a patient’s arm is extended on an arm board during surgery, it is not extended beyond a 90° angle, as this would put stress on the brachial plexus and may lead to nerve damage.
The surgical specimen which is examined immediately by the pathologist is a/an:
A frozen section is a sample of tissue examined by the pathologist immediately while the patient is still under anesthesia.
If a premedicated patient were left unattended and fell from the stretcher and received an injury, this would be a direct example of:
Leaving a premedicated patient unattended would be an example of abandonment. The patient’s condition warrants the presence of a health care professional to monitor the patient.
The Surgical Technologist knows the patient undergoing a surgical procedure and shares this information with a mutual friend who works in the medical billing department. This is an example of which type of breach of professional conduct?
This would be a breach of confidentiality. All privileged information should remain confidential, even if the patient is known to a member of the team.
Patient safety in the Operating Room is the responsibility of the:
The entire surgical team is responsible for assuring that the OR is safe both for patients and staff.
Which of the position for surgery might require the use of shoulder braces?
Padded shoulder braces should be applied to the OR table for the patient in the Trendelenburg position to protect the person from sliding cephalad. It is important that the pressure/weight be borne by the acromion process.
What is apart of the fire triangle?
The fire triangle consists of fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source. Carbon dioxide can be used as an extinguisher, whereas oxygen supports combustion.
The Surgical Technologist scrubbed on a Colon Resection received an emergency phone call from home and there is no one immediately available to scrub in. If they break scrub before a replacement is found, they can be charged with?
This would fall under abandonment. The patient is in a vulnerable state that is dependent on the presence of health care professionals. The Surgical Technologist must remain with the patient until a suitable replacement is found.
During the initial sharps count, the Surgical Technologist does not open all of the suture packages that contain multiple needles to count each one. At the end of the procedure, the needle count is incorrect. This would be considered a(n):
Malpractice is a professional misconduct or unreasonable lack of skill or judgement. The Surgical Technologist is professionally responsible to visually count all surgical needles prior to the start of the procedure. A failure to do so can be considered professional malpractice.
The surgeon orders a Foley indwelling catheter to be placed in a patient undergoing Colon Resection. What is the primary reason for placement of a Foley catheter for this procedure?
To monitor urine output or to keep the bladder deflated during the procedure.
For a Right Nephrectomy, the patient would be placed in the (blank) position.
For a Right Nephrectomy, the patient would be placed in the left lateral kidney position—“lateral” because the kidneys are retroperitoneal, “kidney” because the kidney flex on the table is raised, and “left” because the position is named for the side on which the patient is lying.
What is a recommended ventilation practice in an individual operating room?
In-line high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are used in the Operating Room ventilation system along with at least 20 air exchanges per hour and positive air pressure; laminar air flow systems provide up to 600 air exchanges per hour.
When transporting a patient to surgery, you would:
When transporting a patient to surgery, you would stand near the head of the patient and push the stretcher feet first through the corridor. This would allow for close observation of the patient and provide better control of the stretcher.
During a preoperative visit, the anesthesia provider assigned an ASA classification of class V to the patient. This means that:
ASA classification is assigned by the anesthesia care provider on the basis of patient status for surgery. Poor-risk patients are assigned a class V; lower-risk patients are assigned a class I.
The patient has an allergy to latex. How should this patient’s surgery be managed?
Patients with latex sensitivity and allergy should always be scheduled to be the first case of the day. This is done to ensure that no airborne particles containing latex from a previous case come into contact with the sensitive patient.
The patient undergoing Total Abdominal Hysterectomy has Diabetes Mellitus. What special considerations regarding the care of a patient with Diabetes Mellitus should the Surgical Technologist keep in mind?
Patients with Diabetes Mellitus have many health issues, including decreased circulation to the extremities. For this reason, antiembolic stockings or devices are commonly used to increase circulation in the lower extremities during and after surgery.