The nurse reminds the patient that the member of the surgical team who is responsible for obtaining the surgical consent is the

A. Are communications links with personnel outside the room. Both the scrub person and the circulating nurse serve as communication links with the personnel outside the operating room. The scrub person may communicate regarding sterile equipment needs, while the circulating nurse communicates about patient status and surgical progress.

B. Set up initial sterile instruments and supplies. This is the responsibility of the scrub person, not the circulating nurse. The scrub person ensures that sterile instruments are ready and that the sterile field is set up properly.

C. Advise the team of breaks in sterile technique. Only the scrub person is typically responsible for maintaining sterile technique and calling attention to any breaches in sterility. The circulating nurse may assist with ensuring the environment is safe, but the scrub person is directly in charge of sterile technique.

D. Position lights on step stools. Positioning the lights is the responsibility of the circulating nurse. The scrub person’s role is more focused on the sterile field and assisting with surgical instruments.

A. IV line patency: IV access is important for fluid and medication administration, but it is not the highest priority immediately postoperatively.

B. Urine output: Monitoring urine output is important for assessing kidney function and fluid balance, but airway management takes precedence.

C. Airway patency: The priority in the immediate postoperative period is maintaining a patent airway, as patients are at risk for respiratory complications such as obstruction, hypoxia, and aspiration due to anesthesia effects.

D. Wound drainage: Assessing wound drainage is necessary to monitor for excessive bleeding or infection, but it is not the top priority compared to airway patency.