In the OR, you observe the scrub nurse and the circulating nurse performing their functions. A grounding pad is placed beneath the patient. The purpose of the pad is to

A. Preparing the sterile field. This is the responsibility of the scrub person, not the circulating nurse. The circulating nurse is responsible for ensuring everything is in place and the environment is safe, but the sterile field is prepared by the scrub person.

B. Pointing out the observation of contamination immediately to the personnel involved. The circulating nurse is responsible for monitoring the sterile field and surgical environment and immediately pointing out any breaches in sterile technique or contamination to ensure patient safety.

C. Assisting with sterile draping of the patient. The scrub person usually assists with draping the patient in a sterile manner. The circulating nurse may provide the necessary sterile drapes but does not typically assist with the draping procedure directly.

D. Maintaining an accurate count of sponges. The responsibility for counting sponges, instruments, and other items used during the surgery belongs to the scrub person, not the circulating nurse.

A. Recovery care: Recovery is a component of postoperative care, but it does not encompass all aspects of care after surgery.

B. Postoperative care: Postoperative care begins after the patient leaves the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and continues until full recovery, including wound healing, pain management, and preventing complications.

C. PACU care: PACU care is a phase within postoperative care but does not represent the complete postoperative period.

D. Perioperative care: Perioperative care refers to the entire surgical experience (before, during, and after surgery), not just the final phase of recovery.