Question

Which is the best wording for a Needs Statement about reducing lost cotton swabs?

1) Surgeons need to count the number of cotton swabs they use in order to prevent accidentally leaving a swab inside a patient.
2) Surgeons need to magnetize their cotton swabs in order to prevent accidentally leaving a swab inside a patient.
3) People need a more accurate method to keep track of their cotton swabs in order to prevent accidentally leaving a swab in a patient.
4) Surgeons need a more accurate method to keep track of their cotton swabs in order to prevent accidentally leaving swab inside a patient.
5) Former patients need a method to break down cotton swabs that surgeons have accidentally left inside of them.

Answer 1

The ideal Needs Statement for reducing lost cotton swabs is that surgeons need a more accurate method for swab tracking to prevent leaving swabs in patients. Checklists similar to those in aviation, reviewed by the team, could aid in meticulous practice and avoid retention of foreign objects during surgery.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best wording for a Needs Statement about reducing lost cotton swabs is option 4: Surgeons need a more accurate method to keep track of their cotton swabs in order to prevent accidentally leaving a swab inside a patient. This statement is comprehensive because it identifies the specific group with the need (surgeons), the need for a more accurate method (not just counting or magnetization), and the critical outcome of preventing the accidental retention of a swab inside a patient.

Implementing checklists similar to those used by airplane pilots could be effective in this context. For example, as Dr. Pronovost's checklist for ICU physicians resulted in better adherence to safety protocols, a similar checklist for surgeons about swab tracking could be introduced. Nurses would play an integral role in this system as they already review items aloud with the team ensuring that need, sponge, and instrument counts are complete. Moreover, adherence to surgical protocol, like thorough handwashing and proper surgical attire, are critical in preventing postoperative complications, further emphasizing the need for meticulous practices, including swab management.