Final answer:
It is False that placing needles in a stainless-steel disposal tray before the sharps container is standard practice for an accurate needle count. The immediate disposal of needles into sharps containers is key to preventing injuries and maintaining a sterile environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is best practice to place needles removed from the patient's skin in a stainless-steel disposal tray before putting all the used needles in the sharps container to ensure an accurate needle count is False. This practice is not mentioned as a standard protocol, and the key focus should be on the safe and immediate disposal of needles to prevent needle-stick injuries and maintain a sterile environment.
Healthcare facilities often have strict protocols in place for handling needles and other sharps. These protocols typically require the immediate disposal of sharps into a designated sharps container right after use. This approach minimizes the risk of injury or contamination. However, in surgical or procedural settings where accurate counts of instruments, sponges, and needles are critical to ensure that nothing is left inside a patient, there may be a preliminary count on a tray before disposal to ensure all items are accounted for. In such cases, this protocol is part of a broader set of safety checks that occurs in the operating room. Every procedure will have tailored guidelines to maximize patient safety and operational efficiency.