Question

During a procedure and prior to incision, the circulator nurses' responsibility is to:

a) ensure that the surgeon initiates the RN prompted "time out" prior to the procedure starting and states the incision time
b) verify that the surgeon states the patient's fist and last name, the procedure as stated on the consent and on the OR schedule with specific reference to the side, site, level of spine or numbering of digits. Verifies documentation of antibiotic.
c) ensure that all in room visualize and verbalize agreement to the initials of the surgeon on the side for laterality
d) documents that everyone pauses during the time out and that the briefing and debriefing occur when appropriate
e) report to the Nurse Manager any inconsistencies during the "time out"
f) B and C
g) all of the above

Answer 1

The circulator nurse is responsible for multiple confirmations and checks prior to incision, including ensuring a "time out" is initiated, patient and procedure verification, antibiotic administration, and documenting and reporting any inconsistencies. The correct answer is 'all of the above'.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a procedure and prior to incision, the circulator nurse's responsibilities include a range of safety checks and confirmations to ensure patient safety and the success of the procedure. The nurse must ensure that the surgeon initiates the RN prompted "time out" before starting the procedure. This time out is crucial as it involves team members confirming the patient's identity, the surgical site and procedure, and assessing the patient's risks. In addition, the nurse has to verify the patient's details and the procedure, ensure that prophylactic antibiotics have been administered within the appropriate time frame prior to the incision, and confirm that all the necessary imaging results are displayed.

The correct answer to the question would be 'g) all of the above', as the nurse is involved in all aspects mentioned, from confirming team member agreement about the surgery details to documentation and reporting inconsistencies during the time out process.