Insist on that Recount: Your Patient Needs You

It can feel daunting as a new nurse to speak up in a room full of more experienced nurses and surgeons, but you bring unique insight into the OR. The Stitch’s Margaret Vance, MSN, RN, CNOR, NPD-BC, Clinical Nurse Education Specialist-Operating Room, Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, shares the time she spoke up about a missing lap sponge and insisted on a recount. She reminds novice nurses: “You’re a valuable member of the team. Just because you’re new, doesn’t mean you don’t have a voice. Listen to your surgical conscience and speak up. Your patient needs you.”

AORN Resources

Open access:

• Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety-RSI | AORN
  

AORN members can access:

• Retained Surgical Items | AORN FAQs
• Retained Surgical Items | AORN Guideline Essentials
• Using Radiofrequency Technology to Prevent Retained Sponges and Improve Patient Outcomes - AORN Journal
• Guidelines in Practice: Prevention of Unintentionally Retained Surgical Items - AORN Journal
• Preventing Retained Surgical Items During Endovascular Procedures: Bridging the Gap Between Guidelines and Practice - AORN Journal
• Safety First: Preventing Retained Surgical Items - AORN Journal
• Back to Basics 2.0: Preventing Unintentionally Retained Surgical Items - AORN Journal
• Guideline Quick View: Retained Surgical Items - AORN Journal
• Committing to Prevent Unintentionally Retained Surgical Items - AORN Journal
• Retained Surgical Items: Overview of a Persistent Problem in Health Care - AORN Journal
• Items Commonly Retained After a Surgical Procedure - AORN Journal
• Team Member Roles in Preventing Unintentionally Retained Surgical Items - AORN Journal
• Practices to Aid in the Prevention of Unintentionally Retained Surgical Items - AORN Journal

If your facility subscribes to eGuidelines+, you can access:

• Prevention of Retained Surgical Items Guideline | AORN eGuidelines+