Tech in Surgery Prep / Unit 7 TSC 161 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Inspecting a Package Before Opening
The idea
Every sterile package is inspected before it is opened onto the field, and the inspection takes seconds.
In practice
Follow the inspection in order. First, check the outside for damage: holes, tears, punctures, crushed corners, and broken or open seals. Second, check for moisture: water stains or damp areas. Third, check the external indicator for the correct color change. Fourth, check any expiration date. Fifth, check that the label matches what you need. Sixth, once the package is open, check the internal indicator before the contents are used. If anything fails, the package is set aside and the circulating nurse is told.
Where people slip
The person opening the package and the person receiving the contents both have a chance to catch a problem, and both should look. A scrub person who notices a damp corner on a pack the circulator is about to open says so before it is opened.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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