Question

Which action would the circulating nurse classify as a priority during surgery select all that apply

A) Ensuring proper patient positioning on the operating table.
B) Verifying the availability of sterile instruments and supplies.
C) Documenting the patient's preoperative vital signs.
D) Communicating with the surgical team about the patient's medical history.


Select the actions that the circulating nurse would classify as priorities during surgery.

Answer 1

The circulating nurse classifies ensuring proper patient positioning, verifying sterile instruments and supplies, and communicating the patient's medical history as priorities during surgery. These contribute significantly to patient safety and surgical success.

Step-by-step explanation:

The circulating nurse plays a critical role in the operating room, with responsibilities including ensuring proper patient positioning on the operating table to prevent injury, verifying the availability of sterile instruments and supplies to maintain sterility and prevent infections, and communicating with the surgical team about the patient's medical history to inform decisions on patient care. These priorities help maintain patient safety and contribute to the success of the surgical procedure.

Additionally, the circulating nurse may review aloud with the team the name of the procedure, ensure that needle, sponge, and instrument counts are complete, and check that any specimens are correctly labeled. A time out is observed before the skin incision to confirm the patient's identity, surgical site, and procedure. Moreover, the circulating nurse may confirm with the team that prophylactic antibiotics have been administered in a timely manner and that all essential imaging results are displayed in the operating room.