Subject(s)
Disinfection , Endoscopes , Equipment Contamination , Equipment Design , Equipment Reuse , HumansSubject(s)
Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate/organization & administration , Perioperative Nursing , Clinical Competence , Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate/standards , Global Health , Health Care Surveys , Humans , Operating Room Technicians/education , Operating Room Technicians/standards , Operating Room Technicians/supply & distribution , Perioperative Nursing/education , Perioperative Nursing/standards , Perioperative Nursing/supply & distributionSubject(s)
Nursing Staff , Operating Room Nursing/organization & administration , Volunteers , Altruism , Attitude of Health Personnel , Gift Giving , Humans , Internet , Job Satisfaction , Motivation , Nurse's Role , Nursing Staff/organization & administration , Nursing Staff/psychology , Safety , Time Factors , Volunteers/organization & administration , Volunteers/psychologyABSTRACT
Processing surgical instruments in preparation for surgery is a complex multistep practice. It is impractical to culture each and every item to determine sterility; therefore, the best assurance of a sterile product is careful execution of every step in the process coupled with an ongoing quality control program. Perioperative staff nurses and managers responsible for instrument processing, whether for a single instrument or multiple sets, must be knowledgeable with regard to cleaning; packaging; cycle selection; and the use of physical, chemical, and biological monitors. Nurses also should be able to resolve issues related to loaner sets, flash sterilization, and extended cycles.
Subject(s)
Guidelines as Topic , Operating Room Nursing/organization & administration , Sterilization , Ambulatory Surgical Procedures , Cross Infection/prevention & control , Detergents , Equipment Contamination/prevention & control , Equipment Reuse/standards , Humans , Medical Errors/prevention & control , Nurse's Role , Product Packaging , Quality Control , Sterilization/methods , Sterilization/standards , Surgical Instruments/microbiology , Surgical Instruments/parasitology , Surgical Instruments/virology , Time Factors , United StatesSubject(s)
Central Supply, Hospital/standards , Equipment and Supplies/standards , Indicators and Reagents/classification , Sterilization/standards , Documentation , Equipment Contamination , Equipment and Supplies/microbiology , Humans , Indicators and Reagents/chemistry , Reference Standards , Sterilization/instrumentation , United StatesABSTRACT
Rigid endoscopes are complex, expensive, and fragile devices that routinely are subjected to harsh conditions. An endoscope used during only one procedure typically will be handled by a minimum of six people. Understanding what can go wrong with endoscopes and how to test them can help staff members detect problems before rather than during surgery. This article reviews some simple tests that can be used to ensure endoscope quality and provides information about how to demand excellence in endoscope repair.