A nurse is caring for a patient who is undergoing surgery with general anesthesia. The patient asks, "What will happen to me when I'm under anesthesia?” How should the nurse respond?

Choice A reason:

Using a standardized counting method and sequence for each procedure helps to ensure consistency and accuracy in the counting process. It also reduces the risk of confusion or miscommunication among the surgical team members. This is a recommended standard of practice by the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST)

Choice B reason:

Separating sponges into groups of five or ten and counting them as one unit helps to facilitate counting and prevent foreign body retention. It also allows for easier identification of missing sponges in case of an incorrect count. This is another recommended standard of practice by the AST.

Choice C reason:

Keeping instruments and supplies on separate trays according to their function does not necessarily facilitate counting or prevent foreign body retention. It may help to organize the surgical field, but it does not address the issue of counting or documenting the items used during the procedure. Therefore, this is not a correct answer.

Choice D reason:

Using a white board or paper to record the counts and update them as needed helps to facilitate counting and prevent foreign body retention. It provides a visual reference for the surgical team members and allows for easy verification of the counts at any time during the procedure. It also helps to document any discrepancies or changes in the counts. This is another recommended standard of practice by the AST.

Choice E reason:

Discarding any unused items before the final count does not facilitate counting or prevent foreign body retention. It may actually increase the risk of losing track of the items used during the procedure or leaving some items inside the patient. Therefore, this is not a correct answer.

Choice A reason:

Preparing the surgical instruments and equipment is one of the tasks that the CST performs, but it is not the only one. According to the Mayo Clinic, surgical technologists also assist during and after surgical procedures by passing tools, holding retractors, cutting suture, applying dressings, and counting materials. Therefore, choice A is incomplete and not the best answer.

Choice B reason:

Providing emotional support and education to the patient is not a task that the CST performs. This is usually done by the registered nurse (RN) or the anesthesia care provider before the surgery. The CST does not interact with the patient directly, but rather focuses on preparing and maintaining a sterile environment in the operating room. Therefore, choice B is incorrect.

Choice C reason:

Monitoring the patient's vital signs and oxygen saturation is not a task that the CST performs. This is usually done by the anesthesia care provider or the perioperative nurse during the surgery. The CST does not monitor the patient's condition, but rather assists the surgeon and other members of the surgical team. Therefore, choice C is incorrect.

Choice D reason:

Applying sterile drapes and handing instruments to the surgeon are both tasks that the CST performs. According to WebMD, these are part of the intraoperative duties of the CST, along with keeping the operating room sterile, assisting in retracting tissues, and suctioning and sponging. Therefore, choice D is correct and covers two of the main tasks that the CST performs.