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The scrub relief person finds a syringe and solution in a sterile cup without an identification labeled. The scrub person should:

a) ask the scrub person who is leaving to label the syringe and cup
b) discard the unlabeled medication since it is not labeled
c) ask the scrub person what is in the syringe and then label it
d) there is only on medication on the field and it's ok to keep it unlabeled

1 Answer

4 votes

Final answer:

The scrub relief person should discard the unlabeled medication to ensure no medication errors occur and maintain patient safety. Surgical protocols mandate all substances be properly labeled to prevent mishaps and ensure proper operation counts. Option a.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a scrub relief person finds a syringe and solution in a sterile cup without an identification label, they must adhere to strict protocols to ensure patient safety and maintain the integrity of the operating field. The correct action would be to discard the unlabeled medication. This is because unlabeled substances can lead to medication errors, which could be harmful or even fatal to the patient. If a scrub person encounters this situation, their primary concern should be patient safety, complying with surgical protocols, and preventing potential risks associated with medication mismanagement. Option a.

In the context of identifying and labeling, every item used during a surgical procedure needs to be accounted for and correctly identified, which includes performing needle, sponge, and instrument counts. There should also be checks to ensure that the specimen is properly labeled and that there are no issues with the equipment. This rigorous attention to detail is essential to avoid errors similar to the case where a healthcare worker's misconduct resulted in patients contracting HIV due to syringes being filled with unknown substances.

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