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The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) in Denver regularly receives questions from members about their counting procedures. Here are some of the most common, with answers from Ramona Conner, RN, MSN, perioperative nursing specialist at AORN.

These 4 areas of counting puzzle nursing staff

July 1, 2003

These 4 areas of counting puzzle nursing staff

The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) in Denver regularly receives questions from members about their counting procedures. Here are some of the most common, with answers from Ramona Conner, RN, MSN, perioperative nursing specialist at AORN:

Question: Do counts need to be performed on vaginal procedures?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do small needles that do not show up on an X-ray need to be counted?

Answer: Yes.

Question: In an emergency procedure, what should we do if a count could not be completed?

Answer: Your procedures for following up on an incorrect count at the end of the procedure should be followed.

Question: Can unmarked surgical towels be used as packing in a surgical wound?

Answer: If they are not radio-opaque and there is not a tag or marker sewn in, they should not be used. There have been incidences of retained towels.

[Editor’s note: Do you have additional questions regarding counting or have questions on other topics? Contact: Joy Daughtery Dickinson, Senior Managing Editor, Same-Day Surgery, P.O. Box 740056, Atlanta, GA 30374. Telephone: (229) 377-8044. Fax: (229) 377-9144. E-mail: [email protected].]