Patient Safety
used for positive patient identification (PPID) during an initial patient encounter, Is a MaineHealth red rule.
What are 2 patient identifiers, most commonly name and date of birth?
This is the first and most important step in surgical asepsis and must be done before donning sterile gloves.
What is surgical hand scrub or surgical hand antisepsis?
Nerve that can be damaged if an arm is placed at a >90 degree angle
What is the brachial plexus?
According to The Joint Commission, this must be done immediately after a medication is prepared and before it is left on the sterile field, even if there is only one medication.
What is label?
This is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections in the OR.
What is hand hygiene?
should include surgical counts, positioning details, time-outs, medications, implants
What is documentation?
Only this part of a sterile gown is considered sterile after it is donned.
What are the front of the gown from chest to waist and the sleeves from 2 inches above the elbow to the cuff?
damage to the femoral, obturator and perineal nerves can occur when placing a patient in this position
What is lithotomy
This process is required before transferring a patient to or from the OR and involves verifying the patient's home medications
What is medication reconciliation?
After positioning, this step helps reduce the risk of surgical site infections.
What is preoperative skin antisepsis?
handoff tool used to communicate critical patient care information
What is SBAR?
While setting up for a case, the scrub tech notices a small tear in the back table cover but continues the setup anyway.
This is the action that should have been taken instead.
What is break down the back table and get a new pack?
when in this position you should pad the eyes and avoid pressure to prevent conjunctival edema, corneal abrasion, or retinal ischemia
What is prone?
This high-alert medication class, used to prevent blood clots during and after surgery, must be handled with extra care due to bleeding risks.
What are anticoagulants?
This is the correct order to clean the OR surfaces to avoid spreading contaminants.
What is clean from the least contaminated areas to the most contaminated areas?
pause immediately prior to the start of the procedure that at minimum confirms correct patient, correct site and correct procedure
What is the surgical time out?
You’re setting up the sterile field and realize the indicator strip inside one of the instrument trays did not change color. (checked before placing on the back table)
According to surgical asepsis standards, this is what must happen.
What is consider the tray unsterile and do not use it?
items used to support and prevent pressure injuries during positioning
What are positional aids (gel pads, foam, axillary rolls, etc....)?
This visual aid, often attached to medication drawers or storage areas, helps distinguish look-alike/sound-alike drugs to reduce selection errors.
What is tall man lettering?
These OR surfaces are often overlooked but requires regular cleaning due to frequent hand contact by staff.
What are door handles or light switches?
This type of infection is one of the most common complications after surgery and can often be prevented with proper sterile technique and antibiotic prophylaxis.
What is a surgical site infection (SSI)?
The scrub tech is opening instruments and notices the tray has condensation inside but was sterilized earlier that day.
This is the appropriate action.
What is consider the tray contaminated and do not use it — moisture can allow microbial growth?
should be placed on the patient 2 inches above the knees with a sheet or blanket between it and the patient's skin
What is a safety strap?
According to The Joint Commission, this must be done by two qualified individuals when high-alert medications are involved.
What is an independent double-check?
This type of airflow system in the OR helps prevent airborne contaminants from entering by keeping air pressure higher inside the room than outside.
What is positive pressure airflow?